A new crime drama is quietly assembling one of the most interesting casts in recent memory, and now Chris Evans is officially part of it. The actor has joined My Darling California, stepping into a role that was previously set for Josh Brolin, who had to exit due to scheduling conflicts. It’s one of those casting switches that doesn’t slow a project down — if anything, it shifts the energy in a slightly different direction.
The film is being directed by Elijah Bynum, who is coming off the intense character-driven drama Magazine Dreams. That alone gives a hint about the tone here. This isn’t expected to be a loud, action-heavy crime film. It looks more like something layered, character-focused, and probably a bit gritty in how it approaches its story.
Set in Los Angeles in 1980, the film revolves around a single crime that ends up connecting multiple lives in unexpected ways. The narrative brings together a TV host, his dissatisfied wife, a country music star, two small-time criminals, and an ex-con — all chasing some version of a better life. It’s the kind of setup where the story doesn’t belong to just one person. Instead, it unfolds through different perspectives, gradually showing how one moment can ripple across completely different worlds.
And the cast backing this idea is honestly hard to ignore. Alongside Evans, the film features Jessica Chastain, Chris Pine, Mikey Madison, Charles Melton, and Don Cheadle. It’s a mix of established stars and newer performers who’ve been gaining attention recently, which usually adds a bit of unpredictability to how the film might play out on screen.
Production is expected to begin later this year, with filming likely kicking off around late summer or early fall. Behind the scenes, the project is being financed by Anton, which is also handling international sales. The film is expected to be introduced to global buyers at the Cannes Film Festival, which suggests the makers are positioning it for a wider international presence rather than keeping it limited.
What stands out about My Darling California right now isn’t just the cast or the premise — it’s the combination of both. A multi-character crime story set in a very specific time period, backed by actors who can carry emotionally complex roles, often ends up being more about human choices than the crime itself. And if that’s the direction Bynum takes, this could be less about what happened — and more about why it happened.
At this stage, the film still feels like a slow build rather than a loud announcement. But sometimes those are the projects that end up surprising people the most once everything comes together.
