US Congressman Eric Swalwell has signed on as executive producer of Rohit Karn Batra's “The Gun on Second Street.” Rumer Willis and Tom Arnold will star in the film. Additional casting rounds are underway.
The film follows two Pittsburgh police officers who are partners and best friends. They are called to investigate a domestic violence dispute on Second Street that escalates into a violent confrontation when Officer TJ Meadows accidentally shoots his partner, Officer Kevin Cooper, with his backup gun. Years later, no longer a cop and traumatized by the experience, TJ moves back to Pittsburgh and finds his way to Kevin's widow, Kacie.
Batra is producing with Guy J. Louthan of Ransom Films. Swalwell will serve as executive producer alongside Rikin Shah. This is believed to be the first time a sitting congressman has served as executive producer of a film.
“I grew up in a family of law enforcement officers. My father was a police officer and my brothers are still on the force today. For seven years I worked as a district attorney in Oakland with the best cops in the world. I know only too well that everything can change in an instant for a cop and his family.”, said Rep. Swalwell. “'The Gun on Second Street' aims to bring the challenges facing police families to a broader audience – the public – and I am eager and excited to see this film made and widely distributed.”
Swalwall wrote a book called “Endgame,” which deals with the impeachment of Donald J. Trump. He has been a consultant to Spycraft Entertainment and appeared with Sean Penn in his Ukraine documentary “Superpower.” Swalwall helped produce the feature film “Words of War.” Swalwall is also a frequent guest on CNN, MSNBC and Fox News and has appeared on “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” “The Daily Show,” “Late Night With Seth Meyers” and “Real Time With Bill Maher.” He is also the creator and executive producer of the upcoming special “Cooking for Kamala” with co-hosts Padma Lakshmi and Joel McHale, which begins this Thursday.
Swalwell also recently organized “Comics for Kamala,” a virtual rally via Zoom in support of Vice President Kamala Harris’ White House campaign that featured appearances by Jason Bateman, Jon Hamm, Kathy Griffin and “The Gun on Second Street” star Tom Arnold.
Batra directed, wrote the screenplay and produced – together with Louthan – the international crime drama “Line of Descent”. starring Oscar winner Brendan Fraser. Batra also won the Jury Prize at the Palm Beach International Film Festival Awards for Best Short Film for “Roundabout.”
