McCarthy to Star in Black List Thriller Turpentine
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- Melissa McCarthy is in talks to star in the thriller Turpentine, directed by Craig Zobel.
- Turpentine is based on a script by Justin Varava that made the 2024 Black List and follows a deadbeat son who hires friends to rob his parents to pay off a bookie.
- T‑Street and ShivHans Pictures are set to produce the film.
- Craig Zobel is a DGA Award winner and three‑time Emmy nominee, known for directing Compliance, Z for Zachariah, and TV series such as The Leftovers and Mare of Easttown.
- Melissa McCarthy's upcoming projects include starring opposite Clive Owen in Unspeakable: The Murder of JonBenét Ramsey on Paramount+ and voicing a lead role in Warner Bros. Pictures Animation’s Margie Claus.
- Justin Varava’s script is represented by CAA and Untitled Entertainment.
- ShivHans Pictures, founded by Shivani Rawat, has recent credits including Hit Man and The Wedding Banquet.
Why it matters: McCarthy’s attachment brings Oscar‑nominated star power to a Black List thriller, giving T‑Street and ShivHans a high‑profile lead that could boost the film’s market appeal, attract financing, and enhance Zobel’s reputation for directing talent‑driven projects, and may increase the project's visibility at festivals.
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