Indie Drama ‘Cup of Jo: The Patron Saint of Desperate Cases’ Reveals Lead Cast As Production Wraps

EXCLUSIVE: Jasper Polish (Animal Kingdom), Audie Rick (1883), Zak Steiner (The Ghost Trap) and Alice Barrett (Billions) are leading the indie drama Cup of Jo: The Patron Saint of Desperate Cases, which wrapped principal photography in Northern California.

Written and directed by Nick Martinez, the film centers on Jo (Polish), a single mother who begs, borrows, and steals to provide her son, Nick (Rick), with a better life than she had, with little help from her ex-husband Matt (Steiner) or her mother Ruth (Barrett).

The film’s producers are Kali Ruth, Barnaby Dallas, Jessica Olthof (Surrender), and Darren Haruo Rae (Nisei). Larry Schapiro (One Fast Move) executive produces the Roann Films project.

Polish is known for her recurring role of ‘Julia’ on TNT’s Animal Kingdom, and the series Bring on the Dancing Horses opposite Kate Bosworth. Her feature work includes American Traitor: The Trial of Axis Sally, opposite Al Pacino, and The Astronaut Farmer opposite Billy Bob Thornton and Virginia Madsen. She is repped by Luber Roklin Entertainment and Buchwald.

Rick was most recently a series regular in the Paramount+ series 1883 starring as ‘John Dutton’, in the prequel to Yellowstone, from creator Taylor Sheridan. He also portrayed the younger version of Richard Madden on the Russo Brothers’ Prime Video series Citadel. He is repped by Luber Roklin Entertainment and Paloma Model & Talent.

Steiner’s notable credits include Netflix’s The Perfect Date, CBS’ NCIS, and Camila Cabello’s “Liar” music video, which has amassed over 130 million views on YouTube. He recurred on HBO’s Euphoria as ‘Aaron Jacobs’, brother to Jacob Elordi’s character. Additional credits include the Mason Novick-produced comedy We Broke Up starring opposite Aya Cash, the Tribeca Film Festival selection No Running opposite Taryn Manning, the HBO Max holiday feature A Hollywood Christmas, and Hulu’s reboot of White Man Can’t Jump. He is repped by Luber Roklin Entertainment.

Barrett’s credits include recent stints on Peacock’s The Thing About Pam, Starz’ Heels, Showtime’s Billions, and NBC’s Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. She performed in several Off-Off Broadway productions before being cast in her first leading film role in Mission Hill, re-released as No Expectations. She is repped by Vamos Talento and Frontline Management.