Dominic Sessa is stepping into unfamiliar territory with Shades of Paradise, the upcoming adventure crime epic from Weston Razooli, the filmmaker behind Riddle of Fire. Sessa leads the film as Wolf, a race car driver and his first bona fide villain, marking a hard turn from the troubled but fundamentally decent young men who have defined much of his early work. The film recently wrapped production in Barcelona, Spain, after shooting across June and July, with Razooli writing and directing and Oscar-nominated producer Andrew Morrison of Kaplan Morrison, the company behind The Brutalist, among its producers.
For Dominic Sessa, Shades of Paradise is notable not only because it puts him at the center of a crime story, but also because it asks him to play someone considerably darker. Wolf is a race car driver caught in a dangerous world of criminals, and Sessa is taking on the physical side of the part as well. He is set to perform his own stunt driving and handle prop firearms, adding a demanding action element to a role that moves him away from the sympathetic characters audiences have seen him play.
The project arrives as Dominic Sessa continues to expand his filmography following his breakthrough as Angus Tully in Alexander Payne’s The Holdovers and his portrayal of a young Anthony Bourdain in Tony. Shades of Paradise gives the actor another opportunity to show how far beyond that breakthrough performance he can go, while taking on a character who operates in a very different moral and physical space.
The film is the second feature from Weston Razooli, whose debut, Riddle of Fire, premiered at the 2023 Cannes Directors’ Fortnight and became known for its unusual blend of adventure, fantasy and handmade visual style. The film was memorably described as “Mad Max with nine-year-olds,” a phrase that captured its playful but distinctive approach.
With Shades of Paradise, Weston Razooli shifts toward adult crime while keeping his interest in strong visual worlds. He has described the new film as a “Poliziotteschi-esque Euro-crime romantic thriller,” drawing from the tough, stylish European crime movies of the past. The story follows four small-time criminals whose lives spiral into violence, betrayal and uncertainty after a high-stakes jewel heist.
That vintage influence will also be visible in the filmmaking itself. Shades of Paradise was shot on authentic 2-perf 35mm film by cinematographer Simone D’Arcangelo, whose credits include The Settlers. Weston Razooli has envisioned the movie as a highly stylized, visually striking and hard-R-rated world, making the choice of film stock an important part of its identity rather than a simple production detail.
The project also has strong European support. The shoot took place in Barcelona, while acclaimed Spanish production company Canadá is involved alongside Kaplan Morrison. Andrew Morrison is producing with Mark Lampert, Oleg Nodelman and Michael D’Alto, giving the independent production an experienced team behind its ambitious genre approach.
Dominic Sessa is joined by an eclectic ensemble featuring Jack Dylan Grazer, Naira Lleo, Najwa Nimri, Rojuu, Zack Harrod, Teru Castilla Serrano, Romann Berrux, Rhys Mitchell and Stanislav Baretsky. Their presence adds an international dimension to a film already rooted in European locations and influences.
For Dominic Sessa, however, the biggest draw may be the chance to enter a completely different cinematic lane. After establishing himself through character-driven performances, he is now taking on a physically demanding crime role with a filmmaker known for building unusual worlds. Shades of Paradise therefore represents another clear step in Sessa’s rapidly developing career, with the actor moving from breakout newcomer toward a performer willing to take bigger and more unexpected risks.
The film has yet to announce a release date. For now, the completed Barcelona shoot sets the stage for Razooli’s most ambitious feature yet, while Sessa’s role as Wolf gives the project a distinctly different showcase for the young actor.