Chris O'Donnell Launches Lone Cypress Entertainment with First Project "Kilkenny"

Exclusive: Chris O'Donnell has launched Lone Cypress Entertainment, a new production company backed by funding for development and production. The company's first project is the film Kilkenny, starring PJ Byrne (Rainmaker, Five-Star Weekend) and directed by J. Dupleix (Somebody Somewhere, The Baltimorons).

EXCLUSIVE: Chris O'Donnell has launched Lone Cypress Entertainment, a new production company backed by capital for development and production. The company's first project is Kilkenny starring PJ Byrne (The Rainmaker, The Five Star Weekend) and directed by Jay Duplass (Somebody Somewhere, The Baltimorons).

O'Donnell revealed that Lone Cypress is an engine for the company to "bring together great teams and share in our success" from digital series to TV and film. Through the production company, he claims, they can "invest in ideas and help writers package their projects from the very beginning, whether it's a sketch, short story, essay, book or feature." Related News Megan Park's YA Series 'Sterling Point' Gets Podcast Release Date, Original Video and First Photos

Jay Lavender, O'Donnell's producing partner, will develop and produce projects across genres and formats. O'Donnell, who currently stars and executive produces Ryan Murphy's ABC hit series 9-1-1: Nashville, says his own experiences early in his career helped inspire the company. Watch on Deadline

"When we ended NCIS: Los Angeles after 14 seasons, it coincided with our business being in the midst of a major disruption," shared O'Donnell. When thinking about the next chapter of my career, I kept coming back to my dreams of working on unique projects with talented people.”

"When I started out, I was fortunate to work with incredible actors and directors who took me under their wing and taught me the ins and outs of everything from performance to promotion," he added. Part of my inspiration for creating The Only Cedar is to give back to the next generation of talent. At the same time, there are a lot of talented actors and filmmakers that I've met that have opened up this path for me that I'd love to work with."

Lone Cypress's first project will be Kilkenny, set in Ireland. Details of the plan are not available. Byrne and Duplass are writing the screenplay from a story by Byrne and Andrew Moscato. O'Donnell will produce alongside Lavender, Muscato, Byrne and Duplass.

"Kilkenny is a perfect example of Lone Cypress' talent-driven project," O'Donnell said. I have been friends with PJ for almost thirty years and have been thrilled to watch his career soar. When we started the company, I called PJ and told him I wanted to produce something together. PG played with Jay and Andrew in the upcoming Rocky and wanted to work with them again. "He brought us their take on two unforgettable characters, and I jumped right in."

O'Donnell is repped by Gersh, Untitled Entertainment and Jackoway Austen Tyerman Wertheimer.

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