Britt Lower has been cast in the lead role of Sender, a psychological horror film currently in production and produced by Jamie Lee Curtis through her banner Comet Pictures. The film will also feature performances by David Dastmalchian, Anna Baryshnikov, and Curtis.
The project marks the feature directorial debut of Russell Goldman and is based on his 2022 short film Return to Sender, which won awards on the festival circuit. Goldman later adapted the short into a feature-length screenplay that appeared on the 2023 Black List. The story centers on a woman who becomes entangled in a personal and unsettling e-commerce scam, triggering an obsession with uncovering the identity of the anonymous sender.
Curtis is producing the film alongside Molly Hallam and Jake Katofsky. Executive producers include Akshay Shah, Lower, and Goldman. Co-producers on the film are Thomas Grabinski, Eric Baird, Cesar Vega, and Mireia Vilanova. Verve Ventures is representing the film for North American sales.
In a statement, Curtis described her support for Goldman’s transition to directing features. “I am so proud to be a part of Russell’s first movie, the first of many. The little seed that Comet Pictures planted has now grown into a feature filled with talented artists surrounding a new and exciting filmmaker.”
Lower is currently known for her performance in Severance, Apple TV+’s science fiction series where she plays dual roles opposite Adam Scott. The show has completed its second season and has been renewed for a third. Her recent film credits include Darkest Miriam and Psycho Therapy, both of which premiered at the Tribeca Festival before their theatrical releases. She is also set to headline Netflix’s upcoming limited series I Will Find You, based on the novel by Harlan Coben. Lower is represented by UTA, Ames/Hashagen Entertainment, and Jackoway Austen Tyerman.
Dastmalchian’s recent credits include Oppenheimer, The Boogeyman, and Dune: Part One. He gained additional attention through his lead role in the supernatural horror title Late Night with the Devil. His upcoming work includes Murderbot on Apple TV+, Dexter: Resurrection, and The Life of Chuck, a Mike Flanagan adaptation of a Stephen King story. Dastmalchian is represented by Atlas Artists and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller.
Baryshnikov, best known for appearances in Love Lies Bleeding and Dickinson, recently executive produced and starred in Idiotka, which premiered at SXSW. She is represented by CAA, Brookside Artist Management, and Yorn, Levine, Barnes.
Curtis appears in a supporting role in Sender. She was recently seen opposite Pamela Anderson in The Last Showgirl, a performance that earned her nominations from both the Screen Actors Guild and the British Academy. Her upcoming work includes Freakier Friday, a follow-up to her 2003 collaboration with Lindsay Lohan, James L. Brooks’ ensemble comedy Ella McCay, and Amazon’s adaptation of Patricia Cornwell’s Kay Scarpetta, where she stars opposite Nicole Kidman. Curtis is represented by CAA and Jackoway Austen Tyerman.
Goldman has previously collaborated with Curtis as co-writer of the graphic novel Mother Nature, published by Titan Comics. His short films Burn Out and Closing Time have screened at over 100 festivals worldwide. He is represented by Verve and Myman Greenspan Fox.
Production on Sender is ongoing. The project brings together cast members with recent festival, streaming, and theatrical visibility. Curtis and her Comet Pictures label continue to work with first-time directors and projects grounded in genre storytelling.
