Michael Pitt and Ryan Simpkins have joined Poverty Row’s Mark Pickford biopic The First, which is set to begin shooting in 2013.

Pitt will play Pickford’s first husband Owen Moore while Simpkins is cast as the young Pickford. As previously announced, Lily Rabe will star as Pickford in her prime.

Jennifer DeLia, who co-founded Poverty Row alongside Julie Pacino, will direct from a screenplay by Josh Fagin. Poverty Row is producing with Said Zaharoui.

  • Thomas Ian Nicholas will star in Brian A Metcalf’s horror The Lost Tree. The story follows a haunted man who moves into an isolated cabin. Production on the Red Compass Media project is set for October. Nicholas, Metcalf and Ben Chan are producing.