Lead Cast Announced For 'Octavio Is Dead'

By Ghada Ibrahim | Jan 20, 2017 02:16 PM EST

The much anticipated ghost story by Sook-Yin Lee titled "Octavio is Dead!" have settled for three prominent actors in its casting. Raoul Trujillo, Sarah Gadon and Rosanna Arquette will be making their appearance in the story.


Variety has learned that the drama film will be shot in the area of Toronto between the dates Jan. 22 and Feb. 13. The film is written and directed by Lee and produced by Simone Urdl, Jennifer Weiss and Jamie Manning of Film Farm.

Sarah Gadon is not only acting in the film but is also the executive producer of the project. Her character is that of a daughter with an overbearing mother, which is played by Arquette. Gadon's character will soon enter the world of her expired father which is strange and rich. Trujillo plays the character's father.

The daughter will be confronted by forces such as the occult, sexual identity, willpower all against imagination on her journey. Octavio's student Apostolis is played by Dimitris Kitsos. The Ontario Media Development Corporation and Telefilm Canada participated in the production of the film. Sales agent WTFilms is representing the film internationally.

The Netflix-CBC production will also see Gadon playing the lead role in "Alias Grace". The film is based on the Margaret Atwood novel. Gadon will also make an appearance in "The Death and Life of John F. Donovan" which is directed by Xavier Dolan.

Trujillo starred in "Sicario" of Denis Villeneuve and just finished filming the sequel to it titled "Soldado." Other notable credits of Trujillo are "Apocalypto" of Mel Gibson, "True Blood," "The Blacklist," "DaVinci's Demons" and "CSI: NY."

As for Arquette, her recent credits include "Girls" and "Ray Donovan." Kitsos appeared in "Park" which was screened at the Sundance and Toronto International festivals. Sook-Yin Lee himself starred in "Shortbus," that was premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. It earned her the award for best-supporting actress from the International Cinephile Society.

Sook-Yin Lee got into directing and released her directorial debut "Year of the Carnivore," which starred Ali Liebert, Cristin Milioti, and Sheila McCarthy.

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