Chloe Bennet & Phil Dunster To Star In Area 51 Pic ‘Hello Out There’ From Filmmaker Otis Blum

EXCLUSIVE: Chloe Bennet (Interior Chinatown) and Phil Dunster (Ted Lasso) have been tapped to lead Hello Out There, an indie marking the feature debut of writer-director Otis Blum, which has wrapped production in New Mexico.

The film centers on Minnie (Bennet), a young journalist who embarks on a road trip across New Mexico with her cousin, Rex (Dunster), a punk rock guitarist fresh out of rehab, who is trying to figure out what’s left. Their stated mission: to investigate Area 51 and unearth the truth about extraterrestrial life. But as the journey unfolds, a deeper, more personal reason for their quest comes to light.

Thomas Mahoney (Wild Indian, Only the Good Survive) produced via Handsome Watson, with Purple Intuition providing production services.

In a statement on the project, Blum told Deadline, “This is a story about connection. How do we connect from one individual to another, and from one planet to another? Humans have always looked up at the sky and wondered if anything is looking back.”

Continued the filmmaker, “It has been such a joy working with this incredible team, and I’m beyond excited for the world to see what we have built together. I have always wanted to tell a story that is not only set in New Mexico, but also highlights its beauty, magic, and unique strangeness. It’s a place that means a lot to me, and it was so special to work with a primarily New Mexican crew telling a New Mexican tale.”

Next to be seen starring opposite Jimmy O. Yang on Hulu’s series Interior Chinatown, based on the award-winning book from Charles Yu, which premieres November 19, Bennet is coming off a recurring role in Season 3 of FXX’s acclaimed comedy Dave opposite Lil Dicky. Previously, she’s also been seen starring on ABC’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., a Marvel series that ran for seven seasons.

Best known for his Emmy-nominated turn as AFC Richmond footballer Jamie Tartt on Apple TV+’s hugely popular series Ted Lasso, which is currently eyeing an anticipated Season 4 return, Dunster will next be seen in the second season of Apple TV+’s psychological thriller series Surface. Additional credits for the actor include Bill Condon’s The Good Liar, Kenneth Branagh’s Murder on the Orient Express, and Rupert Goold’s Judy, as well as series like Catherine the Great, Catastrophe, and Strike Back.

Bennet is repped by CAA, Entertainment 360, and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller; Dunster by Independent Talent Group in the UK, CAA, Authentic, Brillstein Entertainment Partners, and Jackoway Austen Tyerman.