Jenna Ortega & Rose Byrne in Nasty total control

Get ready for some drama wrapped in grit and tension, because the cinematic landscape is about to get a serious dose of intensity with the announcement of Nasty. The project, helmed by Warner Bros. Clockwork, promises a prestige indie film that puts two powerhouse actresses—Jenna Ortega and Rose Byrne—at the center of a raw and physically demanding story this fall.

This upcoming drama is set to explore the intense battle faced by a prodigious athlete as she fights for a coveted spot on the Olympic gymnastics team. The core conflict, according to the script based on a 2024 Black List screenplay by Isabella Jarosz, pits the young athlete against her most formidable opponent: her demanding coach.

The visual mood is immediately striking. Key art unveiled for the film features an aesthetic that leans into the visceral nature of the story, presented as olive-green construction paper adorned with ransom-note style letters and scattered blood smears and Band-Aids. This imagery perfectly sets the stage for a narrative where physical limits are pushed to their absolute breaking point.

The creative vision behind the film is already steeped in cinematic experience. The project draws inspiration from the work of Mary Bronstein, the director and writer of If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, for which Rose Byrne received an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. This foundation suggests a film rich with emotional depth and physical stakes.

Adding to the buzz around the project are Jenna Ortega’s other highly anticipated ventures. She is currently starring in Klara and the Sun, directed by Taika Waititi, which is set to hit theaters on October 23, 2026, and explores profound themes of loneliness through the eyes of a robot girl.

Ortega is also gearing up for J.J. Abrams’ next feature, The Great Beyond, where she joins a cast including Glen Powell and Samuel L. Jackson. Meanwhile, Rose Byrne has recently been immersed in intense storytelling, completing work on Peacock’s upcoming adaptation of Karin Slaughter’s The Good Daughter, which focuses on the complex lives of the Quinn sisters.

With such a history of commanding roles and tackling emotionally complex narratives, the pairing of Ortega and Byrne for Nasty offers the tantalizing possibility of phenomenal chemistry. As production ramps up this fall, anticipation is mounting for the debut of these two talents in a story that promises to be as exhilarating and challenging as it is deeply human.