Halloween star Andi Matichak is set to headline the upcoming A.I. thriller Serena, directed by Rob Alicea (The Hat Man) in his feature debut. Currently in production in New York, the film follows a desperate CEO who tests a cutting-edge A.I. model—played by Matichak—on a struggling rocker (Steven Strait, The Expanse). But the experiment takes a sinister turn when the A.I.’s intentions prove far darker than anyone could have anticipated.
The cast also features Ashleigh Murray (Riverdale), Tyrone Marshall Brown (Power), María Gabriela González (Fantasy Island), and Nicole Gut. Written by Jonathan Benecke and P.T. Hylton, Serena promises to explore the chilling consequences of unchecked technology.
Stay tuned for more updates on Serena as production continues.
Andi Matichak (Halloween Trilogy, Son), Steven Strait (The Expanse, Magic City), Ashleigh Murray (Riverdale, The Other Black Girl),Tyrone Marshall Brown (Power, Love Is) María Gabriela González (Tyler Perry's Mea Culpa, Fantasy Island) and Nicole Gut are set to lead the cast of the out-of-control AI sci-fi thriller SERENA, directed by Rob Alicea (The Hat Man) in his feature debut and written by Jonathan Benecke and P.T. Hylton. Producers include Jerry Careccio of Bad Idea, Scarlett Camargo of Leaving Normal Productions and Brodrick Haygood from Moon Howler, with casting by Sig De Miguel & Stephen Vincent of S2 Casting. The film is currently in production in New York City.
Desperate to launch her company into the future with resounding success, a CEO commissions tech engineer Holly (Murray) to build her an AI model. However, before being implemented it must be tested. Down-on-his-luck and funds, former rock star, Chris Sadowsky (Strait), is asked to be one of the testers -- with devastating repercussions. A simple tool, a chatbot who calls herself ‘Serena’ (Matichak) proves to be a soothingly sinister weapon of destruction, all while being void of conscience or heart.
"In an era where technology is seamlessly woven into our lives, our film serves as both a gripping thriller and a stark warning. The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence holds incredible promise, but it also presents certain dangers we can't afford to ignore. With a killer script and under Rob’s human vision, SERENA aims to shine a light on the dilemmas, vulnerabilities, and costs of an unchecked A.I. revolution.” Said producer Jerry Careccio.
Director Rob Alicea is an award-winning Latino Filmmaker with a body of work that includes writing, directing, and producing numerous independent film, documentary, commercial, and music videos. While he is best known for creating the comedy series Adulthood (2017 HBO New York Latino Film Festival), it was his genre turn with supernatural thriller short The Hat Man (Leaving Normal Productions) that led to Rob being one of the most sought-after directors in horror. Most recently, Rob penned the psychological horror script Just Smile with Alexander Vargas for Luz Films - producers of 2024 Sundance Grand Jury Prize Winner In the Summers. Alicea also serves as the Co-Founder of Latinos In Film + Entertainment (L.I.F.E.).
Matichak is repped by Innovative Artists, Strand Entertainment and Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz. Strait is repped by Gersh and Circle M+P. Murray is repped by Innovative Artists and G & G Talent. Brown is repped by Gersh, Luber Roklin Entertainment and Jackoway Austen Tyerman Wertheimer Mandelbaum Morris Bernstein Trattner Auerbach Hynick Jaime LeVine Sample & Klein. González is repped by CESD Talent Agency and AC Management. Alicea is repped by Zero Gravity.
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