When we first covered Christopher McQuarrie’s thriller Compassionate Release for Amazon MGM and United Artists, the headline was Denzel Washington teaming up with the director for the first time. Now that cast is filling in around him: Sinners breakout Miles Caton is set to play Washington’s grandson, Deadline reports exclusively, joining Teyonah Parris, who plays Washington’s estranged daughter.
The story follows a former police detective, played by Washington, serving a life sentence when he’s diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. Granted compassionate release with six months left to live, he returns home to the daughter he left behind and a grandson he never knew existed, hoping only to make amends and leave his past behind him. His past, naturally, has other plans. Scott Barkan and Gregg Zehentner wrote the script.
For Caton, the role continues a rapid rise since Sinners, where he played Sammie, the young blues guitarist and sharecropper cousin to Michael B. Jordan’s twin characters in Ryan Coogler’s 2025 film. That performance earned him a Critics Choice Award for Best Young Actor/Actress and more than 30 total award nominations, including the EE BAFTA Rising Star Award. The 21-year-old New York native, son of gospel artist Timiney Figueroa, has been singing since age two and began his career as a backup vocalist for H.E.R. before launching his own solo career in 2023. He’s since signed to Columbia Records and recently released the single “Lean On,” with more music expected early next year.
Scott Stuber and Nick Nesbitt produce for United Artists, alongside Christopher and Heather McQuarrie for Invisible Ink, Joseph Restaino for Hungry Bull Productions, Reza Moheet and Norman Aladjem for Mainstay Entertainment, and Katia Washington and Tommy Harper. The film arrives in theaters October 1, 2027.