“King Snake,” the movie-in-progress from Natural State filmmaker Jeff Nichols, is one step closer to making it onto the big screen.

On Tuesday, Variety announced that the film’s U.S. rights have been acquired by Neon, the independent film production and distribution company responsible for critical darlings like “Parasite,” “Anora” and “Sentimental Value.” Currently in production in Arkansas, “King Snake” stars Margaret Qualley, Michael Shannon and Drew Starkey.

Beyond a logline provided when it was first announced — “the film follows a young couple (Qualley and Starkey) who inherit a farm in rural Arkansas and must conquer the demons, both physical and metaphysical, that haunt its legacy” — not much about “King Snake” has been revealed. That said, paying attention to social media casting calls from Little Rock talent agency The Agency Inc. has proved a fun way to make us feel a little closer to the action. 

Since February, The Agency Inc. has been in search of young boys, girls and “males of short stature” to play “mythical characters”; “African American females (ages 26-30)” for a supporting role with five scenes; “small caucasian babies (6-8 months old by April 28th), ideally with blue eyes”; “Black actors and other people of color (ages 45+) to play various professionals and friends in a rural farming community”; and more. What could it all mean??

Daniel Grear is the print editor at the Arkansas Times. He also writes about culture. Send tips to danielgrear@arktimes.com
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