Michele StuevenJohn Rhys-Davies and Paris Brosnan are coming together on screen in Seniors, a new intergenerational adventure about an unlikely friendship, a secret treasure hunt, and the lasting impact of choosing to invest in someone else.
When a troubled teen, played by Brosnan, begins community service at a retirement home, the last thing he expects is to get recruited into a secret treasure hunt by a stubborn veteran with some dangerous and heart-wrenching unfinished business. But as the unlikely duo’s misadventure unfolds, they begin to discover something they didn’t realize they were missing: friendship, purpose, and a sense of belonging neither saw coming.
Filled with humor, heart, and adventure, Seniors is a feel-good intergenerational comedy about second chances. While Rhys-Davies plays the elder curmudgeon, most of the rest of the cast is made up of seniors in high school.
It’s also a story about father and child relationships and estrangements. Produced and directed by Lance Clark, the film, which opens in theaters on Friday, Oct. 23, also stars Bethany Anne Lind (Ozark, People We Meet on Vacation), Eric Mendenhall (What to Expect When You’re Expecting, Outer Banks), Sophia Echendu (Chicago P.D.), and Tyler C. Toney.
As with all Forester Film productions, students from Huntington University worked alongside industry professionals in key production roles, gaining hands-on experience throughout the filmmaking process.
John Rhys-Davies as Albert (Courtesy Forester Film)
“The script is written from the heart and delivered by the heart,” Rhys-Davies tells LA Weekly during a Zoom call with the young Brosnan, who is the son of James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan. “It’s a warm, feel-good movie for any generation. It’s not a depressing film. It’s about the vitality of life and youth and overcoming the darkness of a lived life and bringing joy to it.”
The veteran actor, who has been friends with the elder Brosnan for decades, took the young actor under his wing during the production in Indiana.
“I had so much work to do, but I felt safe and inspired by John,” says Paris, who is also an accomplished photographer. “ In the beginning, I thought I might not be ready to lead a film, but I took a leap of faith. He pushed me to get out of my comfort zone and broke me out of my shell. I remember we were filming, and I was going very big and dramatic, and he methodically and carefully brought me down to the right level. It was the best acting class I ever attended.”
He also took a dose of advice from his famous father, who currently stars in the Paramount+ series MobLand. He told Paris to be bold, follow his heart, read the story carefully, and of all things, listen to John.
“I think the message of this film is that you’re never too old and it’s never too late to find a sense of purpose or meaningful friendship,” Paris says. “ Sometimes those things come from people and places you least expect.”
Paris Brosnan as Ori (Courtesy Forester Film)