| Golden State Killer | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Vito Brown |
| Written by | Vito Brown |
| Produced by |
|
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Peter Buntaine |
| Edited by | Scott Gray |
Production company | Pacific Media |
| Distributed by | Lionsgate |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Golden State Killer is an upcoming American psychological crime thriller film directed and written by Vito Brown, a supposed pseudonym for Vincent Gallo. It stars Gallo as American serial killer Joseph James DeAngelo, popularly known as the Golden State Killer, alonside James Franco and Ted Rooney.
The film will be released in the United States through Lionsgate.
In January 2024, it was revealed that Vincent Gallo was set to appear alongside actor James Franco in Jordan Gertner's upcoming film The Policeman, where Gallo will portray serial killer and rapist Joseph James DeAngelo. Gertner previously served as a producer for Buffalo '66 (1998). [2]
It marks Gallo's first Hollywood production since Tetro (2009), and Franco's first Hollywood production since The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018), both actors had been working sporadically with European filmmakers.
Principal photography took place in Portland, [3] and entered post-production in late 2024. [4]
In October 2024, Franco stated that he was unsure of when The Policeman would release, noting that "there is fighting over the cut". In 2025, Variety reported that Gertner was no longer attached to the film as writer-director, only a producer; the film was instead being directed and written by Vito Brown. [5]
Some media outlets speculated that Vito Brown is a pseudonym for Gallo himself. [6] Leonard Pearce of TheFilmStage noted that Gallo once portrayed a character named Vito Brown in Keep It for Yourself (1991); Gallo has also portrayed other similarly named characters including Billy Brown in Buffalo '66 (1998), Vincenzo Brown in Nénette and Boni (1996), Shane Brown in Trouble Every Day (2001), and Captain Brown in US Go Home (1994); [6] while also directing The Brown Bunny (2003). [7]
After filming, reports emerged that Gallo was anonymously accused by two actresses, who do not star in the film, of making lewd comments during auditions. Their allegation promoted an investigation by the Screen Actors Guild, who monitored the film's production. Gertner and the film's production company, Pacific Media Productions, both issued a statement in defense of Gallo. Their statement said that an intimacy coordinator was utilized during filming and that "the production of the picture was carried out in a safe, protective and respectful environment"; while adding that the film's cast and crew are "proud of the movie we have made." [4]
In May 2025, Lionsgate Films obtained domestic distribution rights to the film, through Grindstone Entertainment. The film was also retitled to Golden State Killer. [5] The film is expected to be released sometime in 2026.