Kumail Nanjiani to Star in Political Thriller 'The Independent' (Exclusive)

The actor will play an idealistic journalist in the film, which will be directed by Amy Rice and is being introduced at the European Film Market in Berlin by The Exchange.

Kumail Nanjiani is adding political thriller to his growing list of onscreen credits, having signed up to star in The Independent.

Nanjiani — who landed an best screenplay Oscar nomination for his 2017 breakout The Big Sick and has the Paramount romantic comedy The Lovebirds and his first superhero outing in Marvel’s The Eternals coming up — is set to play an idealistic young journalist who uncovers a major political conspiracy just as America’s first viable independent presidential candidate is poised for electoral victory.

The Exchange is financing the project and will introduce it to buyers at the European Film Market in Berlin.

A top-ranked Black List script, The Independent will mark the narrative feature debut of Emmy-nominated documentary filmmaker Amy Rice, who directed HBO’s Edward Norton-produced By the People: The Election of Barack Obama. Two-time Black List scribe Evan Parter, who is currently writing the upcoming Amazon Studios original Untitled Jonn Dean Feature, starring Chris Pine — penned the script.

Parter will also produce The Independent alongside the Emmy-winning duo of Sam Bisbee and Theodora Dunlap of Park Pictures (Hearts Beat Loud, Infinitely Polar Bear) and Anonymous Content’s Ryan Cunningham.

"Kumail is a great actor with global recognition and he serves as the cornerstone for an incredible ensemble cast that we are excited to announce shortly," said Brian O’Shea, CEO of The Exchange.

The Exchange’s EFM lineup also includes The Thicket, starring Peter Dinklage, Noomi Rapace and Sophia Lillis; Anna Faris’ Summer Madness; Zoe Saldana’s Key Hole Garden; the SXSW Midnight section-premiering The Toll; Bruce Willis’ Cosmic Sin; Spree, featuring Joe Keery, Sasheer Zamata and David Arquette; the Sundance-bowing Welcome to Chechnya; and Warning, starring Thomas Jane, Alex Pettyfer, Charlotte Le Bon, Alice Eve and Patrick Schwarzenegger.