Press Release

Four-Time Academy Award Nominee Jane Alexander Will Star in Lillian, Next Door, a New Indie Feature Film Beginning Production in April

Marco Pigossi (center) and Kanoa Goo (right) join in the drama-comedy, which is directed by award-winning director Janice Engel

Los Angeles / New York — Jane Alexander (Kramer vs. Kramer, All the President’s Men, Severance), a four-time Academy Award nominee and two-time Primetime Emmy Award winner, is set to star in the new film Lillian, Next Door, which begins production this month in Nova Scotia under the direction of SXSW Audience Award-winning director Janice Engel (Raise Hell: The Life & Times of Molly Ivins).

Alexander will star opposite Marco Pigossi (You’re Dating a Narcissist, Bone Lake, High Tide) and Kanoa Goo (I Was a Simple Man, The Rookie, Fire Country) in this emotionally layered drama-comedy that centers on an ex-CIA operative with a sly wit who infiltrates the lives of two gay men who move in next door. As secrets unfold, the layers of truth lead to an unexpected friendship and life-altering choices. “I’ve been wanting to play a female spy for years, so I am excited about stepping into Lillian’s shoes,” says Jane Alexander. “My own relationships with younger people enrich my life in many ways, and I’m excited to explore those dynamics on screen. I’m happy to be filming in Nova Scotia with this cast, crew, and creative team.”

Alexander, whose career spans more than six decades across film, television, and theater (and includes a stint helming the NEA), recently garnered renewed critical attention for her 2025 Emmy-nominated performance in Severance. She also currently appears in the critically acclaimed American Classic. Her 1983 film Testament, which earned her an Academy Award nomination for her portrayal of a mother holding her family together in the wake of a nuclear apocalypse, joined the Criterion Collection in March. Her involvement in Lillian, Next Door marks a significant return to a leading role in a character-driven independent feature.

Director Janice Engel brings a proven track record of critically acclaimed work to the project. Produced by James Egan, her documentary Raise Hell: The Life & Times of Molly Ivins premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was later recognized by Rotten Tomatoes as one of the best films directed by women in the 21st century. “I love stories of fearless women who commit to something larger than themselves. That’s Lillian, and it’s definitely Jane Alexander. And to have Marco Pigossi and Kanoa Goo as Lillian’s neighbors is a dream,” says director Janice Engel. “These improbable friends find common ground and create a chosen family. I have my own chosen family, people who understand me and let me be myself authentically. Isn’t that true for so many of us?”

Written by Tim Atkin, a former Coast Guard officer and National Security Council staff member under President Clinton, the story is inspired by lived experiences. Developed and led by a predominantly LGBTQ+ creative team, including director Janice Engel, producer James Egan, writer Tim Atkin, cinematographer Bianca Butti and editor Phyllis Housen, the project is produced by Wild at Heart Films (Producer James Egan), Emotion Pictures (Producer Thom Fitzgerald) and Snarky Elephant Productions (Co-Producer Neal Ludevig).

Producer James Egan, of Wild at Heart Films, has produced and shepherded award-winning films across Sundance, SXSW, and international markets, with distribution partnerships spanning Sony Pictures Classics, HBO, Magnolia, and Apple TV+.

Snarky Elephant’s latest project, “Zari”, won both the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award at NewFest and screened internationally before its broadcast on AMC+, as well as the globally distributed acclaimed series INSOMNIA, Snarky Elephant has established a track record of elevating culturally specific stories with international reach.’

Lillian, Next Door continues a legacy of storytelling that engages with broad audiences about the representation of women as strong and independent central protagonists. It also highlights the continuing challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community and the power of chosen family. Alexander’s casting carries particular significance in this regard, given her history of supporting boundary-pushing work, including her role in the groundbreaking 1978 television film A Question of Love, which addressed lesbian motherhood at a time when such stories were rarely seen onscreen.

Sales will be handled by WME Independent.

You can learn more about Lillian, Next Door @lilliannextdoormovie.

Press inquiries can be directed to:
Snarky Elephant Press Team
LNDpress@snarkyelephant.com
David Jeffrey Ringer: +1 (917) 727-2131

Wild at Heart Films was founded by producer James Egan in 2000, and is dedicated to creating “media that makes a difference.” With a track record of producing award-winning independent films that combine strong storytelling with social impact, the company has produced numerous acclaimed projects which have premiered and screened at major festivals globally, including Sundance and SXSW for its most recent acclaimed documentary, “Raise Hell: The Life And Times of Molly Ivins”. The first project under Wild at Heart Films was the critically acclaimed independent film Jackpot, winner of the John Cassavetes Spirit Award for best low-budget feature.Wild at Heart has established itself as a leader to committing bold, meaningful, and globally resonant films.

Snarky Elephant Productions (SEP) is a creator-led studio dedicated to telling bold, culturally resonant stories that “address the elephant in the room, in a snarky way.” Since 2018, its work has been recognized at leading festivals including Tribeca, Sundance, Dances With Films, and Outfest. Building on recent projects including Zari – a NewFest Grand Jury and Audience Award winner later broadcast on AMC+, and its vertical microdrama comedy series Bad Brown Kids, which explores identity and diaspora through a sharp, digital-first lens – SEP continues to elevate underrepresented voices across formats with global impact.

Emotion Studios / Thom Fitzgerald: Emotion Pictures was founded in 1996 with the intent of producing innovative and independent films. In the decades since, it has become one of Canada’s leading and most respected boutique production houses.