James DeMonaco’s ‘Once Upon a Time in Staten Island’ stars Naomi Watts, Frank Grillo

James DeMonaco, writer and director of the Purge horror franchise, and Frank Grillo – star of The Purge: Anarchy and The Purge: Election Year – are exploring different territory in the coming-of-age film Once Upon Time in Staten Island.

Naomi Watts and Grillo play the parents of an ordinary teen going on an adventure through a town that, following the 1982 release of Rocky III, is obsessed with Rocky Balboa. Lucas Hoyos, Jonah Hauer-King, River Alexander, and Chase Vancin also star.

The producers include Jason Blum, Watts, and Kate Driver. Production on Once Upon a Time in Staten Island will begin later this month.

This year, Watts will be seen in Ophelia, opposite Daisy Ridley, and in Luce, alongside Octavia Spencer. Grillo has several projects coming out this year, including Reprisal with Bruce Willis, Tim Sutton’s Donnybrook, and Boss Level with Mel Gibson.