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Chris Pine and Jenny Slate shooting 'Carousel' in Akron, Cleveland

Chris Pine and Jenny Slate, actors
Chris Pine and Jenny Slate set to star in 'Carousel'

Actor Chris Pine was recently spotted at Akron-Canton Airport filming scenes for his new project, Carousel. Local news outlets confirmed the title with Christian McCauley, the airport’s marketing and communications manager. Joining Pine is Jenny Slate, who has her own connection to the region after shooting My Blind Brother in Cleveland a few years ago.

Information about the project is scarce, but a little sleuthing suggests Carousel is based on a well-regarded screenplay from writer-director Rachel Lambert. Lambert is best known for the drama Sometimes I Think About Dying, starring Daisy Ridley, which premiered at Sundance in 2023. 

Lambert's films often center on intimacy, vulnerability, and the small details of human connection, suggesting Carousel will be more of a character-driven drama than a flashy studio picture.

Rachel Lambert, writer and director
Writer/director Rachel Lambert on the set of 'Sometimes I Think About Dying'

What we know about the plot of 'Carousel'

The story is set in Cleveland, where Noah (Pine?), the head doctor at a community medical clinic, is found reeling from a recent divorce and struggling to connect with his 14-year-old daughter, Maya, who battles severe anxiety, based on a review of the script. 

On top of that, Noah is coping with his father’s death while trying to keep the family clinic afloat after his brother Sam, who stepped in during the transition, decides to move on. 

Noah finds a glimmer of hope when Maya discovers a passion for her school debate team—until he learns it’s coached by Rebecca (Slate?), his former girlfriend, recently back from a high-level political career in Washington, D.C.

A scene from 'My Blind Brother' with Jenny Slate, Adam Scott and Nick Kroll
Jenny Slate, Adam Scott and Nick Kroll, from 'My Blind Brother,' shot in Northeast Ohio in 2014

'Carousel' makes The Hollywood Black List

The film is already drawing attention in Hollywood circles. Carousel landed on the 2023 Black List, an annual survey of the most-liked unproduced screenplays. The Black List has a track record of identifying standout stories. Past entries include The King’s Speech, Juno, Argo, and Spotlight, all of which went on to award-winning success.

For Northeast Ohio, the shoot is another sign of the state’s growing role in the film industry. The production received $517,000 through the Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit program, designed to attract major film and TV projects to the state. 

In recent years, the program has brought high-profile productions like White Noise (Netflix, starring Adam Driver), the Russo brothers’ Cherry, and Slate’s earlier My Blind Brother to the Cleveland area. By leveraging Ohio’s mix of historic architecture, urban grit, and small-town charm, filmmakers have found the region a flexible and affordable backdrop for stories across genres.

With Pine and Slate attached, a respected filmmaker behind the camera, and a Black List pedigree, Carousel looks poised to put Cleveland on screen once again. This time with an emotionally charged drama about family, loss, and second chances.
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