Anthony Mackie is set to lead the feature adaptation of Speed-the-Plow, the biting Hollywood satire written by David Mamet, who will also direct from his own screenplay.
After spending nearly a decade trying to mount the film, Mamet finally has cameras ready to roll. Production begins February 18, 2026 in Atlanta.
Joining Mackie is an ensemble that includes Ben Mendelsohn, Emily Alyn Lind, Sharon Stone, Rebecca Pidgeon, and Chris Bauer.
When Mamet’s play premiered in 1988, it quickly became known as one of the sharpest dissections of how the film business really works: who holds power, how deals get made, and the moral compromises disguised as ambition. The original Broadway production starred Joe Mantegna, Ron Silver — who took home a Tony Award — and Madonna.
But the film version isn’t a straight lift from the stage.
This adaptation moves the action inside the fictional American Prestige Studios, where Bob Grant (Mackie), a junior executive, is suddenly promoted into the role of head of production — despite being described as emotionally and philosophically unequipped for the job.
Circling him are Charlie Fox (Mendelsohn), a seasoned studio insider; Karen (Lind), an office temp; and Gemma Speed (Stone), an unpredictable movie star.
If that setup sounds like a pressure cooker, it’s because it is. Mamet’s work has always thrived on watching people negotiate, posture, seduce, and betray — often in the same conversation.
The film is being produced by Filmopoly’s Vince Jolivette and Richie Hill; Steak & Rosé’s Tyler Payne and Douglas Riggs; along with Jiarui Guo and Anthony Short. International sales will be introduced to buyers at the European Film Market in Berlin.
For Mackie, the role adds another high-profile title to an already stacked slate. The actor will next appear in Apple’s 12 12 12 as well as Marvel’s Avengers: Doomsday.