Dominic Sessa to Headline Weston Razoolis Sprawling Action Movie Shades of Paradise After Wrapping Production in Spain
The cinematic landscape is bracing for a high-octane shift as breakout star Dominic Sessa prepares to lead the cast of Shades of Paradise, an ambitious and sprawling action feature directed by visionary filmmaker Weston Razooli. Fresh off a rapid ascent in the independent and major studio circuits following his unforgettable debut in Alexander Payne’s Academy Award-winning film The Holdovers, Sessa steps firmly into the genre territory of breathless crime thrillers. The project, which has officially wrapped production against the sun-baked, cinematic vistas of Spain, promises to deliver a gritty, visually arresting odyssey that blends high-stakes criminal fallout with classic aesthetic craftsmanship.
Written and directed by Razooli—whose feature debut Riddle of Fire turned heads at the Cannes Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival—Shades of Paradise follows a tightly wound narrative arc centered around four small-time criminals. When a routine jewel heist goes catastrophically wrong, the quartet is violently thrust into an unforgiving, labyrinthine journey defined by sudden betrayal, relentless pursuit, and escalating violence. The production leans heavily into tactile, analog filmmaking techniques, having been captured entirely on 2-perf 35mm film by acclaimed cinematographer Simone D’Arcangelo, whose previous work on The Settlers earned widespread critical acclaim for its striking visual texture.
An Eclectic and International Ensemble Cast
The star power driving Shades of Paradise extends far beyond its leading man. Sessa is joined by an eclectic, internationally recognized ensemble cast featuring Jack Dylan Grazer, Naira Lleo, Najwa Nimri, Rojuu, Zack Harrod, Teru Castilla Serrano, Romann Berrux, Rhys Mitchell, and Stanislav Baretsky. This diverse lineup brings together rising global talent and seasoned performers, positioning the film as a cross-cultural cinematic event capable of appealing to distinct international demographics.
The production is spearheaded by Oscar-nominated producer Andrew Morrison alongside Mark Lampert, Oleg Nodelman, and Michael D’Alto under the banner of Kaplan Morrison. Meanwhile, the executive producer roster is expansive and star-studded, featuring David Kaplan, Elisa Lleras, Alba Barneda, Marta Cruanas, Claude Amadeo, Randal Sandler, Chris Triana, Heather Nodelman, Michael Barasch, Candy Barasch, Jesse Ozeri, Otto Eckstein, Julia Barasch, Samarth Kulkarni, Anastasiya Siro, Marlowe Griffin Lyddon, Jack Chinery, Brendan Lyddon, Magnus Thomassen, Raju Prasad, and Garrett Cayton.
Behind the Lens: Weston Razooli’s Rising Star
To understand the trajectory of Shades of Paradise, one must look closely at the distinct artistic sensibilities of its creator. Weston Razooli carved out a reputation as a fiercely independent multi-hyphenate with his fantasy-adventure debut, Riddle of Fire. The film made significant waves upon its world premiere at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival under the prestigious Director’s Fortnight banner, before subsequently screening at TIFF’s famously energetic Midnight Madness program.
Razooli’s hands-on approach to filmmaking—having written, directed, starred in, edited, and even meticulously crafted the costumes and props for his debut—established him as a filmmaker with a rare, uncompromising vision reminiscent of classic auteur-driven cinema. With Shades of Paradise, Razooli expands his scope, transitioning from whimsical, youthful adventure into the gritty, adult realm of neo-noir action and crime drama while maintaining the palpable visual texture that defined his earlier work. The choice to shoot on 35mm film underscores a dedication to preserving cinematic grain and authenticity in an era dominated by digital sleekness.
Dominic Sessa’s Meteoric Career Trajectory
For Dominic Sessa, headlining Shades of Paradise marks yet another major milestone in a career that has evolved at breakneck speed since he transitioned from unknown boarding school student to critical darling. Sessa made his feature film debut as the emotionally complex prep school student Angus Tully in Alexander Payne’s The Holdovers, starring opposite Paul Giamatti and Da’Vine Joy Randolph. His nuanced, deeply human performance earned him widespread critical acclaim, culminating in a BAFTA Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, alongside wins for Best Breakthrough Performance at both the 2024 Critics Choice Awards and the Film Independent Spirit Awards.
Since that breakout moment, Sessa has deliberately curated an impressively diverse filmography, seamlessly alternating between prestige indie dramas, high-profile biopics, and major studio projects. Among his recent credits is the A24 feature Tony, directed by Matt Johnson, in which Sessa stars as a young Anthony Bourdain alongside Antonio Banderas, Leo Woodall, and Stavros Halkias. He also stars in Stephanie Laing’s feature Tow opposite Rose Byrne, which premiered to positive notices at the Tribeca Film Festival.
Furthermore, Sessa’s commercial footprint continues to expand. Last year, he appeared in the Lionsgate feature Now You See: Now You Don’t alongside an ensemble cast including Jesse Eisenberg, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco, Woody Harrelson, Morgan Freeman, Justice Smith, and Ariana Greenblatt. This past winter, he shared the screen with cinematic heavyweights Michelle Pfeiffer and Chloë Grace Moretz in the Michael Showalter-directed Amazon feature Oh. What. Fun. With Shades of Paradise, Sessa adds the physically demanding, high-tension action genre to his growing repertoire, proving his versatility as a leading man capable of anchoring complex narratives across multiple cinematic styles. Sessa is represented by CAA, Untitled Entertainment, and Hansen Jacobson Teller, while Razooli is represented by Range Media Partners and Granderson Des Rochers.
Kaplan Morrison’s Hot Streak in Prestige Cinema
The backing of Kaplan Morrison adds immense institutional weight to Shades of Paradise. Founded by producers David Kaplan and Andrew Morrison, the New York-based production company has quietly cemented its status as one of the most exciting and fearless banners in contemporary independent cinema. Their early output sets a remarkably high artistic bar.
Kaplan Morrison’s first three films under the banner include Brady Corbet’s Academy Award-nominated epic The Brutalist; Mona Fastvold’s The Testament of Ann Lee, which earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress for Amanda Seyfried; and Beth de Araujo’s harrowing Josephine, which dominated the recent Sundance Film Festival by capturing both the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award.
In addition to wrapping production on Shades of Paradise, Kaplan Morrison recently completed principal photography on David Robert Mitchell’s highly anticipated thriller They Follow in Los Angeles and is actively preparing to produce Brady Corbet’s next major feature. The involvement of such a prestige-focused production house indicates that Shades of Paradise aims to transcend standard genre conventions, offering audiences a film that combines high-octane thrills with elevated artistic execution.
Industry Implications and What Lies Ahead
As principal photography wraps in Spain, the industry is closely monitoring Shades of Paradise as a bellwether for the shifting economics of independent action cinema. By pairing a director known for tactile, auteur-driven storytelling with a rising generational talent like Dominic Sessa and a seasoned prestige producer like Kaplan Morrison, the project bridges the gap between commercial accessibility and artistic integrity.
The decision to shoot on traditional 35mm film in an overseas location like Spain further signals a return to tactile, location-based filmmaking that values atmospheric immersion over green-screen artifice. For Sessa, this project represents a crucial test of his box-office viability and acting range outside the confines of coming-of-age dramas and period pieces. As post-production gets underway, anticipation will inevitably mount regarding distribution deals, festival premiere strategies, and the first official visual glimpses into Razooli’s violent, sun-drenched criminal odyssey.
