Atlanta’s production slate just got a boost. David Mamet’s long-anticipated feature adaptation of his Tony Award–winning play Speed the Plow officially began filming in Atlanta on February 18, 2026. The project is operating under the production code STP, with background casting handled locally by Casting TaylorMade. After nearly a decade in development, Mamet is finally bringing his sharp Hollywood satire to the big screen — and Georgia is where it’s happening.
A High-Profile Cast Lands in Georgia
The film stars Anthony Mackie, Ben Mendelsohn, Emily Alyn Lind, and Sharon Stone, alongside Rebecca Pidgeon and Chris Bauer. Mendelsohn is no stranger to Georgia. He filmed the excellend limited series, The Outsider with Jason Bateman in Georgia. Mendelsohn is famously known for his role as Orson Krennic in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and the Andor series on Disney Plus.
Mackie leads the story as Bob Grant, a junior studio executive unexpectedly promoted to head of production at the fictional American Prestige Studios. Mendelsohn plays seasoned insider Charlie Fox, while Lind portrays office temp Karen, and Stone takes on the role of eccentric and unpredictable movie star Gemma Speed.
Mackie’s involvement is especially notable given his continued presence in Georgia through major franchise work, including recent Marvel projects filming in the state. Bringing together this level of talent for a dialogue-driven drama further reinforces Atlanta’s reputation as more than just a blockbuster hub.
From Broadway Stage to Feature Film
Originally premiering in 1988, Speed the Plow starred Joe Mantegna, Ron Silver, and Madonna and earned Mamet a Tony Award. The play is a biting satire of Hollywood ambition, power dynamics, and moral compromise. While the film will remain rooted in the original premise, it is expected to expand beyond the stage version, offering a more cinematic take on the inner workings of a fictional movie studio.
The story centers on Bob Grant’s uneasy rise to power and the pressures he faces balancing artistic integrity with commercial demands. As alliances shift and egos clash, Mamet’s trademark rapid-fire dialogue and moral tension are expected to remain front and center. The production is set to be completed on March 13.
The post ‘Speed the Plow’ Begins Filming in Atlanta: Anthony Mackie and Sharon Stone Lead David Mamet Film appeared first on Filming in Georgia.
