Ron Perlman, Martin Starr Lead Western Comedy 'Escape of Prisoner 614' (Exclusive)

Jake McDorman and George Sample III also star in the Yale Productions title, which marks Zach Golden's feature directorial debut.

Ron Perlman and Martin Starr are set to lead The Escape of Prisoner 614, The Hollywood Reporter has learned exclusively.

Jake McDorman and George Sample III are also starring in the comedic Western, which marks the feature directorial debut of Zach Golden, who also wrote the script.

Yale Productions' Jordan Yale Levine and Jordan Beckerman are producing with Shaun Sanghani of SSS Entertainment. Perlman will also executive produce for his Wing & A Prayer Productions, with Michael J. Rothstein and Brian Cohen. Yale's Russ Posternak and Jon Keeyes are co-producers. Production is set to begin this month. CAA is representing the film's North American distribution rights.

Set in the 1960s, The Escape of Prisoner 614 sees Starr and McDorman playing two well-intentioned but bumbling deputies who get fired by their overbearing sheriff (Perlman). With hopes of getting rehired, they then decide to go after an escaped prisoner (Sample) only to realize that he's an innocent victim of a racist judicial system and find themselves facing a moral dilemma.

"I’m so thrilled to start production with this amazingly talented group of actors anchoring our cast," said Golden in a statement. "Martin and Jake both bring natural comedic gifts and serious dramatic chops to the film, and George just exudes the charm and empathy needed for our title character. Ron’s the ultimate badass, intimidating tough guy, so he was of course the first guy I thought of for our Sheriff."

Added Perlman, "I fell in love with this project the moment I read Zach’s script. It’s smart and funny, but it also explores weighty issues regarding race and criminal justice that could not be more timely."

Perlman, known for leading the Hellboy franchise and the FX series Sons of Anarchy, adds the project to his upcoming slate, which also includes Alfonso Pineda Ulloa's crime drama The Jesuit and Seth Henrikson's comedy Pottersville. The actor is repped by Gersh, LINK Entertainment and Empire Agency.

Silicon Valley actor Starr recently appeared in Spider-Man: Homecoming, and will next be seen in Sean McGinly's comedy Silver Lake. He is with CAA and Rise Management.

McDorman is repped by UTA and Mosaic. Sample is with Avalon Management.

Yale Productions recently wrapped production on Green Dolphin, produced with Rainmaker Films and Keanu Reeves and starring Justine Skye, Shiloh Fernandez and Seann William Scott, as well as Shotgun, starring Maika Monroe, Jeremy Allen White, Sasha Lane and Marisa Tomei.