Hyena Thriller Casts Kiernan Shipka, Edgar Ramírez
The David Lynch-executive-produced psychological thriller will be directed by Scott Coffey and shoot in Spokane, Washington.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Film — General
Hyena, a psychological thriller executive produced by David Lynch, has cast Kiernan Shipka, D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Edgar Ramírez, and Rosemarie DeWitt. Scott Coffey will direct from a screenplay he co-wrote with novelist Blair Mastbaum.
Why it matters
The project carries the imprint of Lynch, who died in January 2025 and had been a mentor to Coffey during the film's early development. Upgrade and WME Independent will take the project to buyers at the upcoming fall market.
The film was earlier packaged with Archie Madekwe and Havana Rose Liu before the current cast was announced, and its previously scheduled 2025 shoot date has passed without production. No box office, budget, or financing figures were disclosed in the announcement.
The players
David Lynch
The acclaimed filmmaker behind Mulholland Drive and Twin Peaks, who died in January 2025 and remained an executive producer on the project.
Scott Coffey
A director and screenwriter who mentored under Lynch and appeared as Wilkins in Mulholland Drive, now making his directorial move on Hyena.
Kiernan Shipka
An actress known for her role as Sally Draper in Mad Men, cast in the lead of Hyena.
Edgar Ramírez
A Venezuelan actor known for his work in Zero Dark Thirty and Point Break, cast in Hyena.
The details
Scott Coffey, who appeared as Wilkins in Mulholland Drive, will direct Hyena from a screenplay he wrote with novelist Blair Mastbaum. David Lancaster, an Oscar-nominated producer, serves as executive producer alongside Lynch.
Timeline
January 2025: David Lynch died.
2025: Hyena was previously scheduled to begin shooting.
November 5, 2026: Cast and production start were announced at the American Film Market.
Early 2027: Production is slated to begin in Spokane, Washington.
Industry Dynamics
The project reflects the continuing pattern of independent psychological thrillers being packaged through sales agents at the American Film Market before financing is complete. Its path follows the model set by Lynch's own independent work, where distinctive auteur-driven projects rely on festival and market buyer interest rather than studio backing.
Hyena has no announced release platform or theatrical date, and the film will not reach audiences until after its early 2027 production and subsequent sales process. Buyers at the fall market will determine distribution, which will shape how and where viewers can watch it.
The takeaway
Hyena's casting and Lynch's involvement signal a project rooted in an established psychological-thriller tradition, but its shifted timeline shows that independent productions often move on their own schedule. Readers should expect updates as sales agents begin pitching the film to buyers.
Further reading
Explore more in Film — General coverage of independent thrillers and upcoming productions.
