Sean Astin Joins Matthew Modine In Cycling Drama ‘Hard Miles’
01.08.2022 - 21:15
/ deadline.com
EXCLUSIVE: Oscar nominee Sean Astin has signed on to star alongside fellow Stranger Things alum Matthew Modine in the cycling drama Hard Miles, which 2021 Academy Nicholl Fellow R.J. Daniel Hanna is directing from his and Christian Sander’s script.
Additional cast set for the indie includes Cynthia Kaye McWilliams (The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey), Leslie David Baker (The Office), Jahking Guillory (On My Block), Jackson Kelly (Ultra Violet & Black Scorpion), Damien Diaz (Marvel’s Runaways) and Zach T. Robbins (Bloodline).
The film is based on the true story of the cycling team at Colorado’s Ridge View Academy, which for decades has given at-risk youth a second chance through academic rigor, targeted treatment, competitive sports and leadership. Modine stars as Greg Townsend, who has led the team at Ridge View for the last 30 years, as previously announced. Astin will play benevolent local bike shop mechanic Speedy, with Baker as beleaguered facility director Skip Bowman, and Guillory, Jelly, Diaz and Robbins as members of the cycling team. Details as to McWilliams’ character have not yet been disclosed. Christian Sander is producing for Pensé Productions, with Pensé’s Scott Sander serving as EP.
In 1995, Astin and his wife Christine shared an Oscar nom for their live-action short Kangaroo Court. The former’s big-screen acting credits include such notable titles as The Goonies, The War of the Roses, Encino Man, Rudy, Courage Under Fire, the Lord of the Rings films, 50 First Dates, Click and Gloria Bell. He played Joyce Byers’ (Winona Ryder) boyfriend Bob Newby in the second season of Netflix’s Stranger Things and has also been seen on series including Young Rock, The Strain and 24, among many others. Other upcoming