Willa Holland (Arrow, Legion), Shane West (A Walk to Remember) and Dermot Mulroney (My Best Friend’s Wedding) have been attached to star in the action-crime feature The Dirty South from writer-director Matthew Yerby.

The film is produced by Andrew Vogel and Suzann Toni Petrongolo of VP Independent, and Todd Slater of Convoke Media. Executive producers include Jeremy Walton, David Lyons and Jay Burnley (Slated), with financing by Moo Studios and Principal Film Finance.

The Dirty South follows a bartender (Holland) who partners with a mysterious out-of-towner (West) to protect her family’s bar from the small-town big shot (Mulroney). Production is set to wrap in Yerby’s hometown of Natchitoches, LA this month.

“It’s a dream come true to bring this film to Natchitoches; surrounded by the people and places I grew up around,” says Yerby about his directorial debut. “I wrote the script four years ago based on the small-town lifestyle that I know so well, and watching it come to life has been nothing short of incredible. None of this would be possible without the stellar cast and team that continues to go above and beyond on a daily basis, as well as the many friends from Natchitoches that have moved mountains to make this happen.”

“It is a privilege to work alongside Matthew and this talented team of creatives,” said Vogel and Petrongolo. “The feeling is that we are making something special here in north Louisiana, and we believe the cast, crew, and town all share that sentiment.”

“This is an intensely engaging film in which the cast gives an absolute tour de force performance,” adds Slater. “Matthew has created a film with an incredible voice that audiences will love.”

To celebrate Willa’s birthday we have given our website a huge make-over, featuring an old photoshoot taken while on the set of Gossip Girl and behind the scenes photos from The Lab Magazine (which we are still waiting for official outtakes to come out). We’ve also replaced a few outtakes from Toronto International Film Festival with their high-quality versions, and added high definition screen captures from season 3 of The OC, where Willa portrays the rebellious Kaitlin Cooper!

Happy Birthday, Willa!

Reunited with his sister, Oliver (Stephen Amell) and Thea (guest star Willa Holland) find themselves searching through a familiar maze of catacombs. Meanwhile, John (David Ramsey) and Lyla (guest star Audrey Marie Anderson) partner on a special ops mission.

Yass, Thea Queen!

The character that Arrow fans most hoped would put in an appearance during the final season — Oliver’s sister, played by former series regular Willa Holland — will indeed be seen again, TVLine has learned. But wait, there’s more: Holland is confirmed to not just guest-star but recur during the CW series’ 10-episode farewell run.

“We are thrilled to have Willa back in our final season,” says showrunner Beth Schwartz.

An original cast member, Holland began dialing back her Arrow appearance in Season 5 (to 14 of 23 episodes), before parting ways with the series in the 16th episode of Season 6. As that exit storyline went, Thea, with longtime love Roy Harper in tow, left Star City to trot the globe and shut down some recently unearthed Lazarus Pits.

Midway through Season 7, Roy (played by Colton Haynes) returned to present-day Star City sans Thea, due to a falling out they had had stemming from her decision to bring him back from the dead (and thus leave him with that pesky bloodlust) by utilizing a Lazarus Pit. In flash forwards to 2040, meanwhile, Roy is still alone, and bitter, without his love.

Holland last appeared on Arrow in the 12th episode of Season 7, as a talking head within a documentary that was being filmed about Oliver Queen’s rise from wealthy playboy to city-saving vigilante.

Arrow‘s eighth and final season premieres Tuesday, Oct. 15 at 9/8c.

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Thank you for being yourself, Willa. Happy birthday!

 
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