EXCLUSIVE: Selma Blair (S.W.A.T. Exiles) has signed on to star opposite Sean Patrick Flanery in Ethan Almighty – Ethan’s Law, an inspirational indie written, directed and produced by Tané McClure.
Set to shoot in Kentucky in April, the film is based on the viral true story of Jeff Callaway and the rescue dog Ethan, whose miraculous survival inspired the world and led to meaningful changes to animal cruelty laws in Kentucky.
Callaway & Ethan’s story begins in 2021, when Callaway found Ethan abandoned at the Kentucky Humane Society in Louisville, emaciated and near death. Bonding with the dog during his recovery, Callaway cared for him for weeks and ultimately adopted him. After the story caught headlines, the public outcry over Ethan’s abuse helped inspire “Ethan’s Law,” legislation in Kentucky strengthening penalties for animal cruelty and increasing protections for abused animals.
Blair will portray Claire Patterson, who begins in a place of profound vulnerability, grappling with questions of faith, purpose, and personal loss, before undergoing a quiet but powerful transformation through her connection to Ethan’s story.
McClure is producing Ethan Almighty – Ethan’s Law via her McClure Films, alongside Michelle Alexandria via Light Year Pictures. Executive producers include Michael Olsen (Motion Media Group), Todd Slater (Convoke Media), Stephanie Garvin, and Lisanne Canty (Hollywood Expansion Corporation).
Said McClure in a statement to Deadline, “Selma brings an extraordinary depth of humanity and grace to this role. There is a quiet strength in her presence that aligns so beautifully with the heart of this story. We feel incredibly fortunate to have her as part of this film.”
First rising to prominence with her breakout performance opposite Ryan Phillippe, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Reese Witherspoon in the 1999 Sony drama Cruel Intentions, Blair is also known for her work in projects like Legally Blonde and Guillermo del Toro’s Hellboy franchise, among many others across film and television. Following her public diagnosis with multiple sclerosis in 2018, Blair opened up about her experiences with the disease in Introducing, Selma Blair, a critically acclaimed documentary that premiered at SXSW. Most recently, she wrapped shooting S.W.A.T. Exiles, the upcoming 10-episode spinoff of S.W.A.T. for Sony Pictures Television. She is represented by WME, Oregan Segal of Management Production Entertainment, and attorney Joshua T. Reitzas of Berlandi Nussbaum & Reitzas.
English (US) ·