Two prominent members of the Lord of the Rings trilogy’s cast will be reuniting for Jason Mac’s political thriller, A Social Contract, which has already begun filming right here in Chicago.
Sean Astin, who played Sam in the Lord of the Rings movies and voiced Sam in the video games, has been cast in the lead role of Senator Bennett Wilde. Craig Parker, who is best known for his role as Haldir the Elf in The Lord of the Rings trilogy has also been cast in the film, but his exact role is unknown at this time. Deadline first shared the news.
The film is about a political dinner that turns deadly when a group of power starved politicians fight for a seat of survival on a helicopter at the onset of a nuclear war.
Sean Astin is hot off the success of Netflix’s hit Stranger Things, where he played Winona Rider’s love interest Bob Newby. He’s also appeared in the Adam Sandler movies 50 First Dates and Click. Many remember him as Mikey in the Chris Columbus and Steven Spielberg classic The Goonies, not to mention 90’s hits like Encino Man, Chicago made Rudy and Courage Under Fire.
In addition to his role as Haldir the Elf, Craig Parker has made a name for himself on YA series’ such as the 2019 reboot of Charmed and Freeform’s Good Trouble and he has also appeared in films such as Underworld: Rise of the Lycans.
A Social Contract also stars Domenica Cameron-Scorsese (The Age of Innocence) as Regina Wilde, Christopher Wallinger (King Richard) as Harry Houston, Samora Smallwood (Star Trek: Discovery) as Cynthia, Angela Morris (Shining Girls), Rachel Kang (Power Book IV: Force and Chicago Med) as Lisa Hayward, Angela Morris (Spaceman.) as Zoe Houston Connor Green as Miles Hayward, Michael Holding (South Side) as Tyler, and Maria Alejandra Hernandez (Tu Amigo) as Melinda Costas.
ALSO READ: Power Book IV: Force casts stars from Chicago P.D. and The Chi
This will be Jason Mac’s second feature project as he previously directed A Father’s Legacy, which was released by Cinedigm last year and was also produced by Chicago-based Forever Safe Productions.
Alex Hanno wrote the script and conceived the story with his partner Luca Malacrino. John Lerchen is producing under his Chicago-based Forever Safe Productions banner, alongside his partners Austin Turner and Nick Silva. The film is a co-production with Mad Honey Productions and The Chameleon Effect.
Forever Safe Productions was founded by John Lerchen in 2013 with his first feature film and the company has produced at least 6 additional feature films with several more on the horizon in addition to A Social Contract.
