Jake West, who directs horror films, is helming a shark survival thriller called White, and Carla Woodcock, the actress most famous for her role in Starz’s Outlander, has been tapped to star as the lead, according to an exclusive report from The Hollywood Reporter.
The film’s press copy describes Willa Harba as “a struggling actress trying to catch her big break”, and Woodcock will play her. Willa is traveling overseas for a shoot with a self-obsessed star when their private jet crashes into the Pacific. She survives, alone on a broken wing in the middle of the ocean, with nothing but a satellite phone to connect her to anyone else. When she calls her demanding studio boss for assistance, the boss brushes her off.
The Boss Who Won’t Help
The setup is classic Hollywood satire: a desperate actor calling the very person who could pull her out of obscurity, and getting nothing but dismissal in return. That’s the whole joke, and it’s the reason this casting lands with particular force.
Sam Swatek, a marine biologist portrayed by Katherine McNamara, picks up Willa’s signal. He delivers the grim news that she has come down hard into the middle of White Shark Café, a spot on the open sea where great white sharks congregate to eat.
Jake West Directs From Dan Schaffer’s Script
Dan Schaffer wrote the screenplay for White, drawing on his work as both writer and illustrator of the cult comic book series Dogwitch. Jake West is directing the film.
The International Sales Machine
Yariv Lerner, Dominic Burns, Crawford Anderson-Dillon and Sky Morfopoulos are producing White, and Highland Film Group is co-financing the project while also securing its distribution and handling world sales on the title at TIFF.
Highland Film Group has pre-sold multiple international territories, including:
- Splendid Film in Germany
- IIF in Italy
- Three Lines Pictures for Benelux
- Cinemundo for Portugal
- Falcon Films for the Middle East
- Latin America to California Filmes
- Rialto Distribution for Australia / New Zealand
Executive Producers Line Up
Arianne Fraser and Delphine Perrier of Highland Film Group are executive producers on the project alongside Kate Beckinsale. Patrick Wintersgill, Kevin Glynn, Pauric Duffy and Hannah Leader complete the producing credits.
The studio boss role isn’t the only reason Beckinsale stands out on this project. Her presence behind the scenes, combined with her reputation in front of the camera, gives the film added weight.
The Cast’s Comedic Timing
Sarah Camlett represents Woodcock at Independent Talent Group. McNamara’s casting as the marine biologist brings its own layer of irony, since she plays a scientist whose job involves studying sharks, and it is she who discovers Willa and attempts to assist her.
Sam and Willa represent opposing approaches toward the whales at the center of the film’s appeal. Willa is a struggling actress who can’. Sam is a professional who has spent her life studying these creatures, whereas Willa is a desperate woman fighting for survival. The film positions them as opposites, with Sam standing for skill and Willa for urgency.
What Highland Film Group Is Doing Now
Highland Film Group’s current slate includes several high-profile projects:
| Project | Director | Stars |
|---|---|---|
| Bluefly | Nimród Antal | Russell Crowe, Priyanka Chopra Jonas |
| Barracuda | Neil Burger | Anthony Mackie, Dafne Keen |
| The Good Samaritan | Pierre Morel | Daisy Ridley, Josh Duhamel, Sharlto Copley |
The company’s ambition across multiple genres, from sci-fi to action thrillers, is on display in that slate. As a horror-thriller with a strong commercial hook, White fits right into that pattern.
The Satirical Core
The film’s central joke is that the person who could save Willa — her studio boss — is the one person who doesn’t want to help her. That’s a darkly funny inversion of the usual Hollywood narrative, where the boss is the one who pulls strings and secures opportunities.
It’s also a commentary on the industry’s cruelty. Willa is a struggling actress who has crashed into the middle of a feeding ground for great whites, and the shark is the metaphorical equivalent of the system that eats up talent without ever giving anything back.
Why This Casting Works
The lead actress brings a grounded presence to the role, and she has built her career over years in television. Her most recognizable credit remains Outlander, which gives her the weight to carry a character who is both vulnerable and determined.
Sam plays the marine biologist in the film, which puts him on the side of knowledge against danger. Willa stands in contrast as an amateur who must simply survive what he understands. The movie sets the two characters up as opposites, with Sam standing for skill and Willa standing for need.
A Darkly Funny Premise
The film’s premise is simple: a struggling actress crashes into the middle of White Shark Café, and the only person who could help her is the one person who won’t. That’s the whole joke, and it’s a good one.
Final Word
White is a shark survival thriller with a satirical edge. It’s a film about a struggling actress who crashes into the middle of White Shark Café, and the only person who could help her is the one person who won’t. That’s a darkly funny premise, and it’s one that Carla Woodcock, Kate Beckinsale and Katherine McNamara will bring to life on screen.
This production features a cast with real strength, direction from someone with real talent, and a plan for getting the film into theaters across several countries at once. It’s a project worth following as it heads toward its release.
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