LOS ANGELES — In an exciting development for indie-thriller cinema, rising stars Percy Hynes White (Wednesday, My Old Ass) and Jeff Wahlberg (Euphoria) are set to headline the upcoming romance crime-thriller Crime Novella. Marking the feature-length directorial debut of filmmaker Omar de Soto, the project has wrapped principal photography after a secretive summer shoot.
Alongside the casting announcement, filmmakers have released a striking first-look image capturing the moody, analog-driven aesthetic of the production. Shot entirely on 35mm film, the movie is already drawing early comparisons to gritty, outlaw-romance classics of the past, positioning itself as a major title to watch on the festival and distribution circuits.
Main Facts: Cast, Crew, and Creative Vision
Written, directed, and produced by Omar de Soto, Crime Novella follows a desperate couple on the run. The central narrative is framed around two lovers attempting to preserve their relationship against insurmountable odds, charting an unpredictable physical and emotional journey that explores how far individuals will go to remain together.
The main ensemble features a strong mix of international and breakout talent:
- Percy Hynes White as Cash, one half of the central runaway duo.
- Jeff Wahlberg as Valentine, the other half of the outlaw couple.
- Zlatko Burić, the European Film Award-winning star of Triangle of Sadness.
- Bobby Soto, recognized for his compelling work in David Ayer’s The Tax Collector.
- Ava del Cielo, known for her appearances in Netflix’s House of Cards and MGM+’s Get Shorty.
Financed entirely by Centropolis Entertainment, the production benefits from heavyweight behind-the-scenes backing. Paul Bennett IV of Replica produces alongside Marco Shepherd of Centropolis Entertainment (Midway). Blockbuster director Roland Emmerich serves as executive producer, with Jessica Olthof and Helena Martel Seward rounding out the team as co-producers.
Chronology of Production and Aesthetic Choices
Production on Crime Novella took place over the course of the summer, utilizing a sweeping geographic footprint that added authentic grit to the cinematic narrative. Filming locations spanned multiple distinct landscapes, moving from the sun-baked expanses of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and the neon-lit grit of Las Vegas, to dynamic production hubs in Los Angeles and cross-border sequences filmed on location in Mexico.
Opting deliberately away from the prevailing digital aesthetic of modern Hollywood, de Soto and his cinematography team chose to shoot Crime Novella on traditional 35mm film stock. This artistic decision ties directly into the project’s thematic homages. Producers have explicitly described the film as a "modern descendant of Badlands and Wild at Heart with a transgressive spirit."
By relying on photochemical film stock, the production captures a timeless, sun-bleached, and tactile look—essential for anchoring a road-trip narrative focused on characters living on the fringe of society.
Supporting Data and Background of Key Talent
The creative pedigree behind Crime Novella highlights a calculated blend of blockbuster infrastructure and independent artistic vision.
- Omar de Soto & Roland Emmerich: De Soto steps into the feature director’s chair with a clear, uncompromising voice. As the husband of master-of-disaster filmmaker Roland Emmerich—whose past credits include Independence Day, The Day After Tomorrow, and 2012—de Soto benefits from a household deeply entrenched in large-scale filmmaking, though Crime Novella pulls back the scale for an intimate, character-driven narrative.
- Percy Hynes White: Hynes White cemented his global fanbase following his breakout turn as Xavier Thorpe in the first season of Netflix’s monster hit Wednesday. He further diversified his resume with a critically acclaimed performance in the Sundance comedy-drama My Old Ass. He is represented by Innovative Artists, Oscars Abrams Zimel & Associates (OAZ), and Sloane, Offer.
- Jeff Wahlberg: Best known for bringing heavy dramatic weight to HBO’s generation-defining smash Euphoria (Season 3), Wahlberg brings a grounded, intense screen presence to the role of Valentine. He is repped by Innovative Artists, Leverage Management, and Sloane Offer.
- Zlatko Burić: A powerhouse dramatic actor, Burić took home the Best Actor prize at the 35th European Film Awards for his unforgettable performance in Ruben Östlund’s Palme d’Or-winning satirical black comedy Triangle of Sadness. Burić is no stranger to the Centropolis ecosystem, having previously appeared in Emmerich’s global disaster epic 2012. He is repped by Art Management.
- Bobby Soto & Ava del Cielo: Soto brings his intense screen presence, previously showcased opposite Shia LaBeouf in The Tax Collector, represented by Innovative Artists, Anonymous Content, and Goodman, Genow. Del Cielo, whose prolific television background includes Netflix’s House of Cards, From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series, and Get Shorty, is represented by Mitchell & Associates Talent.
- Agency Representation: Emmerich and Centropolis Entertainment are represented globally by leading agency CAA.
Official Responses and Creator Statements
The tone on set was defined by collaboration, creative freedom, and mutual respect among the cast and crew. Reflecting on the completion of the shoot, writer-director Omar de Soto expressed profound pride in how the project materialized.
"I couldn’t have asked for a more fitting cast," de Soto shared in an exclusive statement. "Cash and Valentine have always been the heart of this film, and Percy and Jeff understood the world I was trying to build from the beginning. Percy and Jeff are intoxicating onscreen. You simply cannot take your eyes off them."
De Soto also praised the supporting players for fleshing out the universe of the film:
"Zlatko, Bobby, and Ava each brought their own special sauce and made our whimsical world feel lived in. I’m incredibly proud of this cast and deeply grateful to my producers and crew who believed in the film and helped us make it on our own terms. This is their moment."
Producers echoed these sentiments, noting that the gritty romance explores the dangerous boundaries of devotion. The decision to independently finance through Centropolis allowed the creative team to maintain absolute artistic integrity without compromising the narrative’s transgressive edge.
Industry Implications and What’s Next
The arrival of Crime Novella signals several notable trends within the current independent film landscape:
- The Revival of Analog Road-Trip Cinema: By utilizing 35mm film across authentic American Southwest and Mexican backdrops, the production taps into an ongoing audience appetite for tactile, gritty storytelling reminiscent of late-20th-century independent cinema.
- Career Transitions for Young Stars: For Percy Hynes White and Jeff Wahlberg, Crime Novella acts as a vital transition phase. Moving away from massive streaming ensemble series (Wednesday, Euphoria) into an edgy, character-focused indie film allows both actors to showcase their dramatic range as romantic leads and antiheroes.
- Centropolis’ Indie Pivot: While Roland Emmerich is synonymous with high-budget studio disaster spectacles, his banner Centropolis Entertainment—through producers like Marco Shepherd and financial backing—continues to champion idiosyncratic, director-driven indie projects. This diversification demonstrates a strategic commitment to nurturing auteur voices outside the traditional studio-franchise ecosystem.
With principal photography wrapped and a striking first-look image now public, Crime Novella is expected to begin shopping for domestic and international distribution. Festival programmers are likely to eye the title closely for upcoming major circuits, eager to see how de Soto’s modern take on the outlaw-romance genre translates on the big screen.
