Gabriela Ortega and a talented ensemble have joined the cast of the upcoming thriller 52nd State, directed by former Netflix executive Todd S. Yellin.
Gabriela Ortega, Bo Mitchell, Alice Kremelberg, Daryl Mitchell & Oliver Yellin Join Former Netflix Executive in New Thriller
EXCLUSIVE: Gabriela Ortega (Huella), Bo Mitchell (Cobra Kai), Alice Kremelberg (The Sinner), Daryl “Chill” Mitchell (Shifting Gears, Galaxy Quest) and Oliver Yellin have joined the ensemble cast of the international thriller 52nd State.
Production Details
Deadline first reported on this indie project, directed by Todd S. Yellin, former VP of product at Netflix, and executive produced by Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings, marking his debut as a producer.
Filming is currently taking place in Colombia and Costa Rica, with Bogota-based production company Jaguar Bite managing the physical production.
Cast and Characters
The new cast members join previously announced leads Moisés Arias (Fallout, Monos), Teresa Ruiz (Narcos: Mexico, Mo), Ignacio Diaz-Silverio (Primo), and Ken Jeong (The Hangover, Crazy Rich Asians).
Inspired by real events, 52nd State follows Felipe, a disillusioned Costa Rican IT worker who inadvertently becomes involved in a high-stakes scam that targets vulnerable Americans. As the scheme spirals out of control, Felipe collaborates with a determined local investigator and a weary U.S. Postal Inspector, portrayed by Jeong, in a tense effort to dismantle the operation from within.
Ortega plays Elena Grynspan, a Costa Rican investigator motivated by both justice and personal stakes. Bo Mitchell portrays Ricky, a volatile American call center agent. Kremelberg takes on the role of Casey, a hardened operator deeply entrenched in the scam’s inner workings. Daryl Mitchell plays Griff, a veteran conman known for his quick wit and short temper, while Oliver Yellin makes his feature debut as JT, a charming young hustler with hidden motives.
Notable Careers
Ortega, recognized for her direction, recently gained attention for her short film Huella, executive produced by Lena Waithe and featured at the Sundance Film Festival. She is establishing herself as a fresh voice in Latine storytelling.
Mitchell recently starred in the critically acclaimed film The Line, showcasing his talent among a stellar ensemble cast. He will next appear in the indie film The Long Home alongside James Franco and others.
Kremelberg is known for her role in The Sinner and her appearance in the Oscar-nominated The Trial of the Chicago 7. She will also be featured in the upcoming Duffer brothers project The Boroughs for Netflix.
Mitchell brings a wealth of experience, most recently seen in Shifting Gears and Fear the Walking Dead. His extensive credits include Galaxy Quest and NCIS: New Orleans.
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Yellin makes his feature debut with 52nd State.
Production Team
The film is produced by Fernando Ferro (Birthday Cake), Jay Van Hoy (The Witch, The Lighthouse), and Todd Yellin. Hastings joined the project earlier this year as executive producer, marking his first significant venture into feature film production.
Simon Beltran, Juan Pablo Solano, and Natalia Rendón from Jaguar Bite are also executive producing, along with Valentina Bove and Regina Solorzano.
The film’s cinematography is led by Lucas Gath (Rap Sh!t, Funny Face), known for his striking visual storytelling across various genres.
Casting for 52nd State was conducted by Alan Luna and Natalie Ballesteros of ABL Casting, focusing on inclusive and international talent.
“It’s been an honor to collaborate on a film featuring a predominantly Latine and diverse cast,” said Luna. “The talent pool we had was magnificent and truly inspired me to envision a future in cinema where more opportunities are available for talent from all backgrounds.”
Kremelberg is represented by Paradigm; Mitchell by Buchwald and FirstGen Content; Ortega by M88 and Granderson Des Rochers; and Mitchell by Innovative Artists, Jenny Delaney Management, and Felker Toczek Suddleson McGinnis Ryan LLP.
