EXCLUSIVE: Zach Braff and Esther McGregor are set to lead in the true story Clean Hands based on the life of hero drug cop turned recovery advocate Kevin Simmers and his daughter Brooke.
The project from director-writer Jake Allyn is an exploration of the American drug crisis and “the thin blue line” from the opposing eyes of cop and addict who were also father and daughter. Cameras will roll in April-May with Laray Mayfield (The Social Network, Gone Girl) currently casting.
In Hagerstown MD, a Baltimore suburb along the infamous “Heroin Highway”, Kevin Simmers led a drug taskforce built on incarceration. That is, until his 19-year-old daughter Brooke began struggling with addiction. Together, they faced a tragic, triumphant, and truly unbelievable two-year battle. Kevin used Brooke has his own confidential informant and faced betrayal by those he trusted most. Eventually, Kevin turned in his badge to create Brooke’s House, a revolutionary all-female recovery home that has since saved hundreds of young women facing addiction.
Allyn tells Deadline, “This is a true story that can actively save lives. We’re going to authentically portray both the law enforcement and addiction sides of this war. With the heart and range of talents like Zach Braff and Esther McGregor, we can depict a journey that is equal parts tragedy and miracle.”
Allyn’s feature directorial debut was the rodeo-crime drama Ride, which was released theatrically by Well Go USA, and currently streams on PARAMOUNT+.
Two-time Emmy nominee Braff is currently directing the third season of the Award-winning show Shrinking. He was most recently seen in AppleTV’s Bad Monkey. He is best known for his role as John “J.D.” Dorian on the NBC/ABC sitcom. He received a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series and three Golden Globe nominations for his performance. The multihyphenate also received an Emmy nom in comedy series directing for the Ted Lasso episode “Biscuits”. Braff also wrote, directed, and starred in the critically acclaimed 2004 film Garden State for which he won an Independent Spirit Award and a Grammy.
McGregor’s credits count Babygirl, Pedro Almodovar’s The Room Next Door and the Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi. She starred with Ewan McGregor and Clara McGregor in the 2023 SXSW world premiere of Bleeding Love.
Braff will also executive produce Clean Hands, along with Jim Gladden, Scott and Linda Davis, Tony Herbert, Jonathan Beaulieu, Daniel Weaver, and Kevin and Dana Simmers of Brooke’s House.
Braff is repped by CAA, Range Media Partners, Kovert Creative and Ken Richman. McGregor is repped by 3 Arts Entertainment, Narrative and Sloane, Offer, Weber, and Dern.
