David O. Russell is lining up a fresh, high-stakes drama with Shutout, a new film set in the shadowy world of underground pool.
Leading the cast are two names you wouldn’t naturally place side by side: Robert De Niro and Jenna Ortega. One’s a screen icon with a long history of complex, simmering roles; the other, a fast-rising talent steadily building an eclectic résumé . Together, they’ll play a veteran hustler and the gifted newcomer who just might reignite his fire.
De Niro takes on the role of Jake Kejeune, a once-feared pool hall legend now facing the slow fade of obscurity. When he crosses paths with Mia (Ortega), a fiercely talented young player, something clicks. Drawn to her raw potential, Jake steps into the role of mentor — reluctantly at first, but soon with renewed purpose. What unfolds is not just a tale of passing the cue, but a gritty exploration of trust, obsession, and the cost of redemption.
The screenplay comes from Alejandro Adams, though it’s likely to receive the usual Russell polish. While Shutout isn’t expected to be Russell’s next film in production — that spot belongs to Madden, starring Nicolas Cage and Christian Bale — it’s already turning heads ahead of the Cannes market. It also marks the fifth collaboration between De Niro and Russell, proving that some creative partnerships, like old pool cues, only improve with time.
