Justin Long has boarded the cast of "Nasty," the indie drama that pairs him with Jenna Ortega and Rose Byrne, USA Film News has learned. The project, which also counts Elizabeth Foxx among its ensemble, is directed by Breah Stevens and runs a tight 87 minutes. Details of Long's role remain under wraps, though his addition signals a production eager to surround its younger leads with seasoned, tonally flexible performers.
The film's official synopsis centers on Skylar, played by Foxx, whose life is thrown into chaos after her parents are killed in a tragic accident. Left to fend for herself, Skylar finds her world unraveling as she is pulled through a headlong ride of love, betrayal and revenge. It is the kind of emotionally volatile premise that tends to live or die on the strength of its central performance, and Stevens has built a cast designed to keep the pressure on from every angle.
A Cast Built Around Contrast
Foxx anchors the film as Skylar, and the supporting roster is filled out with Daniel Fernando Acosta as Hostage, Tramell Arnold as Juan, Jamerio Clark as Thirsty, Alphonso Settles as Rob, June Shelton as Ant, Delano Anderson as Trap Guy 1 and David Gillespie as Trap Guy 2. Those character names suggest a story that moves through a rougher, more dangerous milieu than a conventional family drama might imply, and the presence of Ortega and Byrne - neither of whose specific roles has been disclosed - hints at a structure in which Skylar's orbit is populated by figures who alternately nurture and threaten her.
For Long, the part represents another step in a career that has deliberately resisted easy categorization. He remains best known for comic turns, yet he has spent years gravitating toward darker, more unsettling material, and a revenge-driven drama with a young protagonist at its center offers a natural fit for his range. Casting him opposite Ortega, one of the busiest young actors of her generation, and Byrne, a performer with a long record of anchoring tense, character-driven stories, gives Stevens a trio capable of carrying the film's tonal shifts.
A Finished Film Awaiting a Wider Audience
"Nasty" is not a new production. The film completed its run at 87 minutes and carries a release date of December 8, 2022, meaning it has already been made and is now the subject of fresh casting news as it looks toward wider exposure. Its current TMDb rating sits at 6 out of 10, a middling score that reflects a limited sample of viewers rather than a definitive verdict. For audiences who have not yet encountered the film, the announcement of Long's involvement serves as an introduction to a title that has so far flown largely under the radar.
The English-language Hollywood production arrives from a first-time-feeling vantage point: Stevens directs, and the ensemble is composed largely of rising performers alongside more established names. That mix is often a recipe for a film that punches above its budget, and the synopsis's promise of love, betrayal and revenge suggests Stevens is aiming for something propulsive rather than contemplative.
What the Addition Means
Bringing Long into the fold this late in the conversation around "Nasty" is a canny move. He brings a recognizability that can draw eyes to a small-scale drama, and his willingness to play against his comic reputation suggests the material offers something meatier than a stock supporting part. Whether his role is substantial or a sharp, memorable presence, his name on the call sheet changes how the film is likely to be received.
For Ortega and Byrne, meanwhile, "Nasty" adds another entry to resumes that have grown increasingly selective. Ortega has become one of the most in-demand young actors working, and Byrne has long been a reliable anchor for emotionally charged material. Placing them in a story about a young woman stripped of her family and forced into a spiral of retribution gives both performers the kind of volatile ground they tend to excel on.
No further casting details, production updates or distribution plans for "Nasty" have been confirmed. The film remains dated to December 8, 2022, and runs 87 minutes. Audiences curious about the project now have an additional reason to seek it out: a cast that keeps getting more interesting with each new name attached.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter