‘Outlander’ actor McTavish to star in local film

Scottish actor Graham McTavish, best known for his work in the Starz series “Outlander,” has inked a deal to star in the independent feature film “Somewhere in Montana,” set to film later this year in Montana.

The film was written by Polson filmmaker Brandon Smith, who wrote and directed the locally filmed horror flick “Nexus of Evil,” which was released in 2020.

McTavish will play John Thomas, a ranch owner who runs into financial difficulties and allows a Hollywood production company to come and use his ranch as a location for their movie, according to a news release from Polson-based film company Nova Vento Entertainment, which Smith co-founded.

Eden Matson of Nova Vento Entertainment will serve as executive producer, with Ricki Maslar of Ricki Maslar Casting and Jared Broxterman of MT Acting & Casting Studio casting the film.

“I’m excited to be working on this film with Brandon,” McTavish said. “Not only because this is a script that only comes along rarely in an actor’s career, but also because it fulfills a dream of visiting the beautiful state of Montana. It’s going to be something special that I can’t wait to share.”

For Smith, it is also a dream come true.

“We are lucky to have the opportunity to film in such a beautiful space as Montana but also to shoot a film with an actor the caliber of Graham McTavish,” Smith said. “It is truly humbling to create this work with him and our amazing cast and crew.”

McTavish also appears in “Lucifer,” “Preacher,” “Castlevania,” “The Witcher,” the Hobbit films, “Aquaman” and the upcoming “House of Dragons” series on HBO Max.

Filming is set to start later this year around Montana with a release date set for sometime in 2023.

For more information about Nova Vento and “Somewhere in Montana,” visit novavento.com.