Dylan Sprouse Leads Hamptons Thriller 'The Sleeping Dogs of Southampton'

Dylan Sprouse, Barbie Ferreira and Tanner Buchanan will star in "The Sleeping Dogs of Southampton," a psychological thriller set in the Hamptons that Highland Film Group will launch to worldwide buyers at the American Film Market. Principal photography has already wrapped.

David Lipper ("Neglected") directs from a script by Peter James Cooper. The cast also includes Jack Kilmer ("The Nice Guys"), Rainey Qualley ("Shut In"), Bianca Ghezzi ("The Idol") and Ethan Cutkowsky ("Shameless").

What is the film about?

The story centers on ruthless Wall Street rainmaker Dorsey Grace, played by Sprouse ("Beautiful Disaster"). Grace knows how to close a deal — and get inside your head.

Over scotch with business associates, he brags about a wild past hookup. Rising, hyper-competitive banker Henry Barrett (Buchanan, "Cobra Kai") suspects the unnamed woman was his wife, Lindsay (Ferreira, "Euphoria").

The synopsis lays out the escalation:

• A seductive summer among Manhattan's moneyed elite, played by Qualley, Kilmer and Ghezzi
• Sprawling estates and lavish pool parties in the Hamptons
• Suspicion hardening into obsession
• Henry locked in a lethal game of corporate warfare and psychological chess against a man who always seems one move ahead

The producers describe the setting as a world of sex, money and carefully guarded secrets.

Who is making it?

Lipper and Robert A. Daly Jr. of Latigo Films ("The Fix," "Not Without Hope") produce alongside Kipp Tribble ("Before Never," "Neglected") and Rick Moore ("Neglected," "The Deputy").

Executive producers are Kevin Weisberg, Ryan Adams, Tracey Paul, Andrew Stevens, Sean Krajewski, Andrea Bucko, Manuel Molina, Timothy Alek Mulley and Jeff Kranzdorf.

What do the sellers say?

Highland Film Group CEO Arianne Fraser framed the project's appeal in a statement: "'The Sleeping Dogs of Southampton' is an irresistibly sexy thriller that takes audiences into a glamorous world where money, power and desire become a dangerous combination."

COO Delphine Perrier pointed to the cast's demographic pull: "With Dylan Sprouse, Barbie Ferreira and Tanner Buchanan leading an exciting ensemble cast, the movie is perfectly positioned to attract the global Gen-Z audience. This is such a fun project, and we look forward to introducing the movie to our buyers at AFM."

How is the cast represented?

Sprouse is represented by Nate Steadman at Gersh Agency and managed by Bonnie Liedtke at Authentic Management. Ferreira is represented by Chris Kiely at Authentic and Jessie Blackhall at Untitled Entertainment. Buchanan is represented by Jasmine Mausner at Gersh Agency and managed by Julien Tacchini at Linden Management. Kilmer is also represented by Liedtke at Authentic Management.

With photography complete and sales launching at AFM, the film could land a distributor and a release window before the market closes — the clearest signal of whether the Gen-Z bet pays off.