Once Upon a Time in Hell’s Kitchen: Once Upon a Time in Hell's Kitchen adaptation gives Sawyer Spielberg his first major lead in the upcoming crime drama

According to the latest reports, the Once Upon a Time in Hell’s Kitchen adaptation will feature Masters of the Air star Sawyer Spielberg. The upcoming crime drama will closely follow in the footsteps of Colin Broderick's original work, which was first published in 2024.

Per Variety, cameras will start rolling for Once Upon a Time in Hell’s Kitchen in New York, but the production timeline still remains under wraps. The premise of the movie (as the title suggests) will be set in '70s Hell's Kitchen (a locality in New York City close to Midtown Manhattan), and the story centers on the tumultuous life of a regional boxer named Danny ‘Boy’ McCoy (played by Sawyer Spielberg).

Sawyer Spielberg to play the lead role in Once Upon a Time in Hell’s Kitchen

According to Variety, Sawyer Spielberg has mentioned in a statement that Once Upon a Time in Hell’s Kitchen will not just be a movie about "crime or violence" but will be more like a story of survival.

To quote his exact words:

"Stories like this aren’t just about crime or violence—they’re about the people caught in the middle, trying to survive, trying to escape, trying to hold on to who they are."

Moreover, Once Upon a Time in Hell’s Kitchen producer Noah C. Haeussner has also described the movie, saying that it would be something about which viewers would "have no idea." The story revolves around an aspiring local boxer called Danny who aims to make a good fortune through a big fight and get out of the Irish mobster-driven neighborhood of Hell's Kitchen, where crime has reached its peak.

However, the raging turf rivalry lands Danny on an emotionally draining journey surrounded by old flames, associations, and friendships. The official logline of Once Upon a Time in Hell’s Kitchen, per Variety, has described the upcoming crime drama as a piece that:

"Combines raw, character-driven drama with the combustible energy of a forgotten chapter in New York’s history."

According to Variety, joining Noah C. Haeussner on the team are executive producers Sawyer Spielberg himself, Scott Swiontek, Colin Broderick, Fishbird, and Yadeed Mellman. Here's a look at the cast of Once Upon a Time in Hell’s Kitchen:

Micheál Neeson
John Connors
Rae Broderick
Craig Walker
Rachel Taylor
Billy Howle
John Duddy

Per Variety, Sky Johnson will join the creative team of Once Upon a Time in Hell’s Kitchen as associate producer alongside director of photography Brandon Cox. According to helmer Colin Broderick's statement to Variety, Once Upon a Time in Hell’s Kitchen will revisit the nuances of a "real neighborhood" in the upcoming movie and also "put a human face" to the plot.