Hollywood embraces cryptocurrency with new movie

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It was bound to happen sooner or later. Hollywood is preparing a movie that centers on cryptocurrencies and a few of Tinsel Town’s most notable faces has signed up to participate. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the indie film, Crypto, will have Kurt Russell starring alongside Luke Hemsworth (Thor’s older brother), Jeremie Harris and Alexis Bledel.

Without giving too much of the movie away, it revolves around a government agent, played by Beau Knapp, working to fight anti-money laundering activity. He is sent back to his hometown in New York to investigate a fraud case. Russell plays the agent’s father, while Hemsworth plays his brother. In the town, Knapp’s character uncovers a wide-reaching criminal network and, as they say, the plot thickens.

Jordan Yale Levine, one of the film’s producers, said of Crypto, “Cryptocurrency has captured the attention and imagination of consumers and entrepreneurs all over the world but has never been explored in film in such a nuanced and exciting way.”

According to its producers, the film has been dubbed “a thriller in the vein of The Firm and The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.” It was written by David Frigerio and Carlyle Eubank, both of whom are known for their work in the 2014 thriller The Signal, starring Lawrence Fishburne.

Crypto is being directed by John Stalberg, Jr., who directed the 2012 comedy, High School. He had previously served as a production assistant for the 1996 film Executive Decision, which also starred Russell.

Stalberg said about the film, “I am overjoyed to be working with such an incredible cast to bring this timely, thrilling story to life. Beau is incredibly talented, and seeing him bring this character to life opposite talent like Alexis, Kurt, Luke, Jeremie and Vincent has been a dream come true.”

The movie might be the first crypto feature to attract A-listers; however, it isn’t the first movie on the subject. A Vietnamese film, Bitcoin Heist, a film involving a high-stakes manhunt from 2016 saw the subject as the plot line, and the Coen brothers, who have brought us No Country For Old Men and The Big Lebowski, announced last year that they were planning on a movie about the dark web market Silk Road.

Filming of Crypto is already underway. It is being shot on location in New York, and no date has been announced for its release.