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Imani Lewis and Tanya Wright to Star in Laci Dent’s Horror-Drama “Killa,” Feature Debut Set for August Shoots
The Apex Times

THE APEX TIMES

Culture/The Apex Times/Jun 26, 3:35 PM EDT

Imani Lewis and Tanya Wright to Star in Laci Dent’s Horror-Drama “Killa,” Feature Debut Set for August Shoots

The film, directed and written by Laci Dent, will follow Asa Jones as she pursues a path in Louisiana girls’ basketball while the story expands into horror-drama territory.

2 min readEditor-approved Apex article

Imani Lewis and Tanya Wright have signed on to star in Killa, a new horror-drama that will mark the feature filmmaking debut of writer-director Laci Dent, Deadline reported June 26.

Deadline said the movie is being set up as an August shoot, with production plans centered on a Louisiana-based storyline built around Asa Jones, a girl from Louisiana who wants to conquer the world of girls’ basketball.

The project’s premise, as described by Deadline, ties the sports ambition to a broader genre arc, with Asa’s drive forming the emotional core while the film moves into horror-drama territory.

Lewis, who Deadline noted for First Kill, and Wright, identified for Orange Is the New Black, are slated to take leading roles, with the casting framed as a pairing of actors known for genre and drama work.

Deadline’s report described the film as featuring a central character story that begins in Louisiana and focuses on girls’ basketball, positioning the basketball setting as a key element of the narrative foundation rather than a backdrop.

Killa will be Laci Dent’s first feature as a director and writer, according to Deadline, which said Dent will helm the project end-to-end as it transitions from development into production.

Deadline did not, in the report, provide additional details on casting beyond Lewis and Wright, supporting roles, distribution plans, or release timing beyond the August shooting window.

The next production steps for Killa, based on the reporting, will focus on assembling the remaining cast and crew ahead of the August start of principal photography.

Why It Matters

  • An August shoot date means the project’s casting and production crew decisions are likely to be time-sensitive for any actors, writers, and below-the-line talent being added next.
  • Because the film is positioned as both a horror-drama and a girls’-basketball story, it may broaden mainstream visibility for sports-centered narratives in genre filmmaking.
  • Laci Dent’s directorial debut will be closely watched by industry observers tracking how first-time feature directors translate developed material into a full-length production.
  • Casting known for drama and genre work, as outlined by Deadline, suggests the film could target audiences spanning multiple viewing communities, which can affect marketing, rating strategy, and distribution approaches.

Sources

Key Facts

  • Imani Lewis and Tanya Wright are set to star in Killa, a horror-drama from writer-director Laci Dent.
  • Killa will be Laci Dent’s feature filmmaking debut, according to Deadline.
  • Deadline reported that filming is planned for August.
  • The story follows Asa Jones, described as a girl from Louisiana aiming to succeed in girls’ basketball.
  • The project ties the basketball-centered character premise to a horror-drama genre approach, per Deadline.
  • Lewis was cited by Deadline for First Kill, and Wright was cited for Orange Is the New Black.