J.K. Simmons and Nina Arianda Join ‘109 Billion Followers’ Ensemble Cast (EXCLUSIVE)
by Katcy Stephan · VarietyOscar winner J.K. Simmons and Tony winner Nina Arianda have joined the ensemble cast of magical realism dramedy “109 Billion Followers” from writer and director Ela Thier (“Foreign Letters,” “Tomorrow Ever After”).
“109 Billion Followers,” which begins filming this November in New York City, also stars J.K. Simmons’ daughter Olivia Simmons (“You Can’t Run Forever”) and Jake Ryan (“Asteroid City,” “Eighth Grade”).
The movie follows a film student (Olivia Simmons) who makes a documentary about a homeless man (J.K. Simmons) who is convinced that he’s the Grim Reaper. Her cameraman and unlikely love interest (Jake Ryan) adds laughs and heart, while her broken but loving mother (Nina Arianda) adds drama and mess.
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It’s a “Being the Ricardos” reunion for J.K. Simmons and Arianda, who portrayed William Frawley and Vivian Vance in Aaron Sorkin’s 2021 Lucille Ball biographical drama.
Simmons earned an Academy Award in 2015 for his role as a merciless jazz instructor in “Whiplash.” He will next be seen in “The Union,” “Red One,” “Saturday Night” and “Juror #2.”
For her performance in “Venus in Fur,” Arianda won a Tony Award in 2015. Her other credits include “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “Goliath,” “Richard Jewell,” “Stan & Ollie” and “Florence Foster Jenkins.”
“I wrote this script specifically for father-daughter team, J.K. and Olivia Simmons, because I know that their relationship will light up the screen and steal hearts,” Thier says. “Our connection with our parents or caregivers can be fraught with pain and complexities, and influence all of our subsequent relationships in life. This film is my love letter to all parents, including my own.”
“109 Billion Followers” is a co-production from Thier Productions and Darius Films. Ela Thier and Nicholas Tabarrok (“The Baker,” “Irena’s Vow”) will produce.
“I’ve had the good fortune of working with J.K. Simmons in the past (‘A Beginner’s Guide to Endings’) and couldn’t be happier to be working with him again alongside the rest of this superb cast,” Tabarrok says. “And what could be a more iconic filming location than New York City in the Fall?”
The film’s crew also includes director of photography Milton Kam and production designer Mariana Soares, with casting by Mia Cusumano and Meghan Rafferty.