Mads Mikkelsen to Play Death Row Chef in ‘Last Meals’ for Director Ramin Bahrani, HanWay Selling in Cannes (EXCLUSIVE) (2025)

Mads Mikkelsen is set to play a death row chef alongside Boyd Holbrook in “Last Meals,” which Oscar-nominee Ramin Bahrani (“The White Tiger,” “99 Homes”) is now set to direct.

HanWay Films has boarded the repackaged project, first announced in 2022, and will begin selling in Cannes. UTA Independent Film Group and Sentient Entertainment will handle North American sales.

The prison drama —set to start principal photography in Ireland later this year —comes from the AMPAS Nicholl Award-winning screenplay by Justin Piasecki (“Relay”) in a story exploring the ideas of guilt, the death penalty, and redemption, all through the lens of food of the highest order, and the world’s most infamous meal: the Ortolan.

“Last Meals” will see Palme d’Or winner Mikkelsen (“Another Round,” “Casino Royale, “The Hunt”) play Walter Karat, a former White House Chef whose fall from grace lands him in the kitchen of a maximum security prison cooking for death row inmates. Boyd Holbrook (“A Complete Unknown,” “Logan,” “The Bikeriders”) will play Jeffrey Reed, a death row inmate who decides to go on a hunger strike and whose constant rejection of his meals frustrates him at every turn. Their animosity reaches a boiling point until Walter confronts Reed, triggering an unexpected deeper connection — Walter starts to believe Reed is innocent. As the two bond, Walter is determined to find out the truth.

“Every now and again a story comes your way where instead of dissecting it to pinpoint weaknesses, you find yourself completely immersed into its characters and tone,” said Mikkelsen. “A story that manages to be non judgemental and at the same time makes us feel like judges. A story full of recognizable, normal people in situations that are everything but normal. Lost dreams, hope, redemption and great love for the unexpected. ‘Last Meals’ is such a story. Combined with a dream team of producers, actors and Ramin at the center, I couldn’t be more thrilled to go to work.”

Emmy and Golden Globe nominee Renée Tab (“Sound of Freedom,” “Cosmopolis,” “Maps to the Stars”) packaged the film and will produce for Sentient Entertainment. Christopher Tuffin (“Alphas,” “Freelance”) of Strong Island will also produce.

Executive Producers include Charles Porter of Black Bench Productions, Kelly Price of Blessed From Above, Karan Hoss of Hoss Productions and Jeeny and Michael Miller of Miller Way. Mickkelsen, Bahrani, Piasecki and Holbrook will also executive produce. Sentient has partnered with Todd Slater and Brandon Evans on behalf of Brick Lane, who will serve as the production service company in Ireland. Ari Novak will oversee production. Principal photography will commence in the fall in Dublin.

“Justin’s script gripped me with its emotional and thrilling storytelling,” said Bahrani, Oscar-nominated for best adapted screenplay in 2021 for “The White Tiger.” “I’ve never seen a film about a prison chef — that unique premise was just the beginning. It also gives me the opportunity to finally collaborate with the brilliant Mads Mikkelsen, whose ability to bring soul and complexity to every role is unmatched.”

“Last Meals’ is a visceral, multi-sensory experience — a deeply human story exploring joy, suffering, and our complex relationship with food as both nourishment and control,” said Tab. “Set against the justice system, it’s a timely and subversive meditation on dignity and resilience. Brought to life through the extraordinary vision and passion of Ramin, Mads, Justin, and Boyd—with echoes of The Shawshank Redemption—the result is a powerful, intimate film that lingers long after the final frame.”

“Last Meals” was first unveiled in 2022 with Delroy Lindo attached to star and British filmmaker Adewale Akinnuoye Agbaje aboard to direct. Samuel Jackson was later set to star, with Andrew Levitas directing.

“This is an award winning screenplay which has finally found the right creative team to deliver on all its promise,” said Gabrielle Stewart, CEO HanWay Films. “Ramin and Mads have brought their own imprint on the story and we couldn’t be more thrilled to be launching it in Cannes.”

Mikkelsen is represented by UTA and Art Management. Bahrani is represented by WME, Untitled Entertainment and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole. Holbrook is represented by WME, Range Media & Yorn Levine. Piasecki is represented by Paradigm, Range & Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren.