Dennis Haysbert and Anji White are among seven new principal cast members joining Deify, the indie psychological horror film from brother filmmakers Carmelo and Nicholas Chimera, which already has Neal McDonough and Skeet Ulrich attached.
Also joining the cast are Ashley Greene (Twilight), Kirk Acevedo (Dawn of the Planet of the Apes), Casey Hartnett (Terrifier 2), director Nicholas Chimera and producer Mike Manning (This Is Us).
Currently in production in Chicago, Deify follows a cult leader put on trial after causing his devoted followers to be burned alive. The film is inspired in part by the 1993 Waco, Texas, standoff between members of the Branch Davidians church and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Ulrich plays the enigmatic and manipulative cult leader, who pleads insanity and claims to be taking commands directly from God. McDonough plays the assistant attorney general and prosecuting attorney. Haysbert plays the judge presiding over the case, while Greene portrays the court-appointed psychologist and cult deprogrammer who evaluates Ulrich’s character. Acevedo portrays the real-life Butcher of Galesburg, convicted in 1986 for the murder and dismemberment of his wife.
Additional cast includes Cliff Chamberlain, Brian Glanney, Jessie Nerud, Garrett Andrew Ahrens, Jason Potter, Danny Bohnen, Scotty Bohnen, Drea Berg, Ricardo Gamboa and Ritchie Ramone of The Ramones.
Chimera Studios and J2 Productions LLC are producing in association with Mannifest Productions. Producers include Jordan Gianneschi, Jacob Rice and Manning, while McDonough and his wife Ruve McDonough serve as executive producers. Steven Tylor O’Connor and Becca McCracken handled casting.