Evan Rachel Wood’s Backspot
by Staff Editors
(March 20, 2023 – Toronto, ON) Page Boy Productions, Night is Y, and Prospero Pictures has confirmed Emmy, SAG and Golden Globe nominee Evan Rachel Wood (Westworld, Thirteen) had joined the cast of D.W. Waterson’s feature directorial debut Backspot. Executive produced by Elliot Page and starring Devery Jacobs and Kudakwashe Rutendo in lead roles as queer young athletes, the film has wrapped principal production after weeks of filming in the Toronto area.
“The importance of excellence in queer storytelling has never been more necessary and attracting a dream cast which includes the transcendent genius that is Evan Rachel Wood is a testament to the quality of the Backspot production,” said Matthew Jordan Smith, Head of Development & Production, Page Boy Productions. “The depth of Evan’s multidimensional talent and her natural raw power are essential to bringing her character Eileen to life. From the script to execution, we are incredibly proud to be producing Backspot as one of the first projects under the Page Boy banner.”
Wood stars as professional cheer coach Eileen McNamara, head coach of the high-performance Thunderhawks squad who pulls Riley (Jacobs) and Amanda (Rutendo) from their mid-level cheer team to be a part of her group of intensely competitive athletes.
“Backspot has been five years in the making and now that we’ve completed production, we can say with all confidence that we have created something very special. Having Evan join the cast was a fantasy fulfilled as she was who we wanted for the role of Eileen from inception,” said D.W. Waterson and Kawennáhere Devery Jacobs of Night is Y and producer Alona Metzer. “We feel so privileged to have worked with the caliber of talent Evan exemplifies alongside the rest of our cast and dedicated crew. Every single person involved left it all on the mat and we are eternally grateful.”
“Independent films require tremendous skill, perseverance, and a strong community of actors and artisans to come together under one unique vision. With Evan, Devery, Kudakwashe and others under the immensely talented eye of D.W. Waterson and in partnership with Page Boy Productions, we are honoured to be able to support a much needed new wave of visionary and diverse storytelling,” said Martin Katz, Prospero Pictures.
Backspot is executive produced by Elliot Page, Matthew Jordan Smith, J.C.Davidson, and Katisha Shaw; and produced by Alona Metzer, D.W. Waterson, Kawennáhere Devery Jacobs, and Martin Katz. It will be distributed by levelFILM in Canada, and will subsequently stream on Crave, followed by CBC and CBC Gem. The film is produced in association with Telefilm Canada, Ontario Creates, CBC Films, and Shaw Rocket Fund. International and US rights to Backspot are represented by UTA.
SOURCE: Page Boy Productions, Night is Y, Prospero Pictures.
