Italian
Lina Esco, the actor best known for “S.W.A.T.” and “Kingdom,” has joined the cast of Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s new film “RIP.”
Joe Carnahan (“Narc,” “Smokin’ Aces”) is directing the action thriller for Netflix. “RIP” follows a team of Miami cops whose trust begins to fray when they discover millions in a derelict stash house. The official logline teases: “As outside forces learn about the size of the seizure, everything for the team is called into question — including who they can rely on.”
Netflix declined to comment on Esco’s casting.
Along with Damon and Affleck, the cast includes Sasha Calle (“The Flash,” “The Young and the Restless”), Teyana Taylor (“A Thousand and One,” “The Book of Clarence”), Catalina Sandino Moreno (“Silent Night,” “Maria Full of Grace”), Scott Adkins (“John Wick: Chapter 4”) and Nestor Carbonell (“Shōgun,” “The Morning Show”).
In “RIP,” Esco will be playing a character named Captain Jackie Velez. The actor starred on “S.W.A.T.” for five seasons between 2017 and 2022, portraying Officer Christina “Chris” Alonso. She also directed the women’s empowerment film “Free the Nipple.” Esco will appear next in George R.R. Martin’s upcoming sci-fi anthology series “The Summer Machine.”
Popular on Variety Affleck and Damon’s company Artists Equity is producing “RIP” along with Luciana Damon and Dani Bernfeld. Executive producers are Michael Joe and Kevin Halloran for Artists Equity. Artists Equity was formed in 2022 and has “Unstoppable,” an inspirational sports drama starring Jennifer Lopez; “The Accountant 2,” featuring Affleck and Jon Bernthal; and “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” also led by Lopez; in the works. Longtime friends Affleck and Damon first teamed on 1997’s Oscar-winning “Good Will Hunting” and collaborated onscreen over the years on 1999’s fantasy comedy “Dogma,” Ridley Scott’s 2021 historical epic “The Last Duel,” the 2023 Nike sports drama “Air.”
