All is fair in love and war, but what if you’re at war with the one you love? First time director Josalynn Smith‘s debut “Ride or Die” challenges the idealization of a long-festering crush with a queer thriller twist. Jamie Foxx‘s Foxxhole Productions produces the feature, which will premiere at Tribeca in the U.S. Narrative Competition.
“Ride or Die” centers on Paula (Briana Middleton), who is unexpectedly reunited with her not-quite-ex Sloane (Stella Everett). Together, they decide to drive across the country to start a new life…but little do they know there is a darkness on the horizon. The below clip hints at some of the turmoil the duo will endure.
The synopsis reads: “When Paula (Middleton), a young Midwesterner who dreams of a fresh start in California, runs into Sloane (Everett), her secret high school crush, who has her demons, the chemistry is electric. What starts as a casual reunion between two high school classmates quickly evolves into something deeper when they make a spontaneous decision to road-trip across the country together. However, unforeseen consequences make their journey more perilous, transforming their whirlwind romance into a tense thriller.”
Cody Kostro, Eisa Davis, Guinevere Turner, and Ella Jay Basco also star.
Foxx told IndieWire that writer/director Smith is already a force. “Josalynn Smith is an exciting new voice in film, and we are proud to be a part of her feature debut,” Foxx and fellow Foxxhole Productions producer Datari Turner said in a statement. “We can’t wait for audiences to see the film.”
Smith, Foxx, Turner, and Matthew Keene Smith all produce the film, with Keely Weiss, Lois Drabkin, Jason McLagan, and Alicia Louzoun-Heisler co-producing. The cinematographer is Lee Muller.
Foxx recently made his return to the screen with the 2024 film “Back in Action.” Foxx reunited with his “Annie” and “Any Given Sunday” co-star Cameron Diaz for the action-comedy. Foxx and Turner also executive produced. “Back in Action” was a turning point for both lead stars: Diaz had announced her retirement in 2018 and had not appeared onscreen since “Annie” in 2014 with Foxx. Production on the Netflix feature “Back in Action” was paused when Foxx suffered from a medical complication in April 2023; Foxx later said that he went “to hell and back” with his health at the time.
“Ride or Die” premieres at June 8 at the Tribeca Festival as a sales title from CAA. Check out the first look clip from the film below.
