WWE Superstar Jade Cargill is stepping into the world of film. She will star alongside Jonathan Majors in True Threat, an action thriller set in Harlem and directed by Gerard McMurray, best known for The First Purge and Burning Sands. The news was first reported by Deadline. The film is the first project from Southland Stories, a new production company focused on authentic and underrepresented voices. It is being produced by Alexis Garcia’s CAT5, along with Charlamagne Tha God, Basil Iwanyk (John Wick, Nobody), and Karen Kinney.
Cargill joins Majors, who was previously announced as the film’s lead. Majors will play Vernon Threat, a former Special Forces operative who returns to Harlem after his teenage son is killed by a gang called the Apollo Kids. The story follows Threat as he fights his way through a 20-story building known as The Carter, facing off with gang members floor by floor until he reaches their leader—his old mentor, Shallow.
Cargill will play Meeka, a powerful lieutenant in the Apollo Kids. She runs the building’s red-light district and acts as a key player in the gang’s hierarchy. The role will tap into Cargill’s athleticism and physicality, something she’s already known for in the wrestling world.
“I am excited to have Jade join us on True Threat,” McMurray told Deadline. “She is a unique talent with a rare blend of athleticism, charisma, and control on camera. The role of Meeka requires presence and precision, and Jade brings both. I believe audiences will see a completely new side of her in this film.”
The producers also expressed their excitement. “Our mission here is to champion new faces and new voices in action storytelling,” they said. “Jade is exactly the type of dynamic talent we want to introduce to the global film audience. She is already a force in the sports and entertainment world, and we believe this is just the beginning for her on the big screen.”
The film, written by McMurray and Hodge K. Johnson, features action design by Larnell Stovall (The Continental) and will showcase 52 Blocks, a Black American martial arts style that hasn’t been seen on this scale before.
Production for this movie is set to begin in the fall.
Also Read: Change In Plans For Jade Cargill At Evolution 2
