When a man fakes his own death to collect $30 million — only for his wife to try to kill him for real — you don’t just watch a thriller. You hold your breath.
On May 14, 2025, Highland Film Group dropped the first official details of Just Play Dead, a high-stakes crime thriller starring Samuel L. Jackson as Jack Wolfe, a ruthless criminal mastermind who fakes his demise to claim a massive life insurance payout. His wife, Nora, played by Eva Green, has other plans: kill him for real, frame his lover, and vanish with the fortune. And she’s not alone — Maria Pedraza Sáez joins the cast as Bianca, a mysterious figure caught in the crossfire of betrayal. The film, directed by Martin Campbell (Casino Royale, The Protégé), is already stirring buzz at the 2025 Cannes Film FestivalCannes, where Arianne Fraser, CEO of Highland Film Group, is handling international sales.
Who’s Playing Whom — And Why It Matters
The core of Just Play Dead isn’t just about murder. It’s about control. Jackson’s Jack Wolfe doesn’t just want to disappear — he wants to orchestrate his own funeral. His wife, Nora, played with icy precision by Green, has spent years under his thumb. The $30 million policy isn’t just money. It’s freedom. And she’s not going to let him walk away with it — not even as a corpse.
Enter Chad (Jason Fernández), the surfer lover she’s been seeing in secret. Jack’s plan? Turn the lovers against each other. But Nora’s smarter than he thinks. She’s already set her own trap. And then there’s Bianca — played by Maria Pedraza Sáez — whose role remains deliberately vague, but insiders say she’s the wildcard who flips the entire game. The supporting cast includes Eoin Macken as Dani, Lee Boardman as Miguel, and Nicole Ansari-Cox as Sister Rachel, each likely tied to the labyrinthine web of lies.
What makes this cast work isn’t just star power — it’s chemistry forged in tension. Jackson’s been playing morally gray villains since Pulp Fiction. Green’s been haunting audiences since Kingdom of Heaven and 300: Rise of an Empire. And Pedraza, fresh off her breakout in Money Heist, brings a quiet ferocity that could steal the whole film.
The $30 Million Trap: A Classic Setup, Modern Twist
The premise feels familiar — think Double Indemnity meets Shutter Island. But the execution? It’s layered. The insurance policy isn’t just a MacGuffin. It’s the only thing holding the characters together. And when the evidence burns on a yacht off Gran Canaria — as the official synopsis confirms — you don’t just wonder who’s guilty. You wonder if anyone is even alive by the end.
Writer Dan Gordon — known for Rambo: Last Blood and The Hurricane — knows how to build slow-burn rage. His dialogue doesn’t shout. It whispers. And when it does, it cuts. The script reportedly includes scenes where characters lie through smiles, using family photos and funeral arrangements as weapons. One line from early drafts: “You don’t need a gun to kill someone. Just a lie and a life insurance form.”
Production Confusion: Pre-Production or Post-Production?
Here’s the twist no one saw coming: no one agrees on the film’s status.
Highland Film Group’s website still lists Just Play Dead as “pre-production,” with an “Exclusive First Look” scheduled for November 14, 2025. But IMDb — the industry’s bible — says the film is already in post-production. Filming wrapped in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain, according to location data. So what’s going on?
Some insiders suggest the studio is playing coy to avoid spoilers. Others think there’s been a delay in uploading final footage. Either way, the discrepancy is unusual. Even more confusing? Early reports from The Avenue Film and Letterboxd named Gary Fleder as director — a name attached to Don’t Say a Word and Runaway Jury. But every official source now points to Campbell. No statement has been issued to clarify.
The production companies involved — Gemstone Films, Head Gear Films, and Mendips Film — are all experienced in European co-productions. That explains the Spanish setting and multilingual cast. But it also raises questions: Why Gran Canaria? The answer lies in tax incentives and dramatic coastlines. The yacht showdown? Likely filmed near Puerto de Mogan, where the cliffs meet the Atlantic in ways that look like a movie set — and no one’s asking questions.
Why This Isn’t Just Another Thriller
There are dozens of thrillers every year. What makes Just Play Dead stand out? It’s the emotional weight beneath the lies.
Jack Wolfe isn’t just a villain. He’s a man who turned love into a transaction. Nora isn’t just a femme fatale. She’s a woman who finally chose herself — even if it meant becoming the monster he made her. And Bianca? She might be the only one who sees the whole game. That’s not just plot. That’s psychology.
And then there’s the timing. After years of pandemic-era delays and studio hesitancy, audiences are hungry for smart, adult thrillers — not superhero sequels or AI-generated action. This film feels like a return to form: character-driven, morally ambiguous, and built on human frailty. It’s Oldboy meets Basic Instinct with a Mediterranean sunburn.
What’s Next? Release Date, Festival Run, and the Real Mystery
No official release date has been set. Letterboxd lists a possible 2025–2026 window. But here’s what we know: if Just Play Dead screens at Cannes in May, it’ll likely land a North American distributor by July. A fall release — October or November — would position it for awards season buzz, especially with Jackson and Green’s track records.
And here’s the real question: Who’s going to survive? Not just physically. But emotionally. Because in this story, the biggest casualty isn’t the body. It’s trust.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is there confusion about the director of 'Just Play Dead'?
Early reports from The Avenue Film and Letterboxd mistakenly credited Gary Fleder as director, but all official sources — including Highland Film Group, IMDb, and teaser trailers — now confirm Martin Campbell is at the helm. No public clarification has been issued, suggesting the error may have stemmed from early development documents or a misattributed press release during pre-production.
How does the $30 million insurance policy drive the plot?
The policy is the engine of every betrayal. Jack plans to fake his death to claim the payout with Nora’s help, but she turns it into a murder-for-hire scheme. The money isn’t just wealth — it’s the only thing both characters believe they can’t live without. When the evidence burns on a yacht, the insurance company’s investigation becomes a ticking clock, forcing everyone to prove their innocence — or invent one.
Why was Gran Canaria chosen as the filming location?
Gran Canaria offers dramatic coastal cliffs, luxury yacht marinas, and Spain’s generous film tax rebates — up to 40% for international productions. The island’s mix of urban and wild landscapes allowed filmmakers to stage both high-society interiors and explosive outdoor sequences, including the climactic yacht showdown. Local crew members from the Canary Islands were reportedly hired in large numbers for the shoot.
What’s Maria Pedraza Sáez’s role in the film?
Pedraza plays Bianca, a character described in early scripts as a “quiet observer with dangerous insight.” While her exact connection to Jack or Nora remains undisclosed, multiple sources suggest she’s an ex-con with ties to the insurance fraud ring — possibly the only person who knows Jack’s original plan before Nora altered it. Her presence may be the key to unraveling the final twist.
Is there a confirmed release date for 'Just Play Dead'?
No official release date has been announced. Highland Film Group plans to screen the film at Cannes in May 2025 to attract buyers, with a potential North American release window between October 2025 and February 2026. Letterboxd currently lists it as “2025 or 2026,” and no distributor has yet been named, though Lionsgate and A24 are rumored to be in talks.
Why does IMDb say the film is in post-production while Highland Film Group says it’s pre-production?
The discrepancy likely stems from data lag. IMDb updates based on industry submissions, which may reflect completed filming and editing work. Highland Film Group’s website, however, may still reflect its internal project status before marketing materials are finalized. It’s not uncommon for studios to delay updating status pages until a release strategy is locked — especially when sales are underway at festivals like Cannes.
