EXCLUSIVE: Shoot underway in South Africa on Chris Smith thriller.

Emory Cohen (The Place Beyond the Pines, The Gambler) has joined Tye Sheridan (Mud, Joe) and Bel Powley (The Diary of A Teenage Girl) in the cast of writer-director Chris Smith’s (Get Santa) thriller Detour, which is now underway in South Africa.

Supporting cast on the film includes True Blood’s Stephen Moyer and newcomer Jared Abrahamson (Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days). 

Sheridan will star as law student and all round good guy Harper who suspects his stepdad Vincent (Moyer) of causing the car crash that landed his mother in a coma. 

Drowning his sorrows in a seedy LA whisky bar, Harper ends up drinking with Johnny Ray (Cohen), a tough redneck who offers to “take care” of Vincent for a cool $20,000. Powley will play Ray’s beautiful but distant girlfriend.

Producers are Julie Baines and Jason Newmark with financing from Head Gear Films with Phil Hunt and Compton Ross also taking producer roles. Bankside handles sales.

Executive producers are Hilary Davis, Stephen Kelliher, Fenella Ross, Elliot Ross and Cathy Schulman.

Cinematographer Chris Ross, BSC is reuniting with director Smith for Detour following their collaboration on Get Santa. Ross recently completed Dad’s Army and Black Sea

Writer-director Smith said: “Detour is going to be an entertaining, stylish film noir, with a sophisticated structure. Alongside my wonderful cast I am supported by a great production and creative team”.