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“The Peanut Butter Falcon” breakout Zack Gottsagen and “S.W.A.T.” star Anna Enger Ritch will star as brother and sister in “A Reason to Stay,” a new romantic comedy from Rippin Sindher. The film recently wrapped principal
photography in Ohio.
The project reunites Gottsagen with TVACOM Films’ David Thies after their collaboration on “The Peanut Butter Falcon.” Kelli A. White of With-An-i Productions also serves as producer alongside Promised The Moon Productions. Additional producers include Amy Russ, Melanie Forchetti, William Thies and Katie Cassidy. Sonein Noack and Emik David serve as executive producers. Ashla Soter serves as a line producer.
Per an official logline, “A Reason to Stay,” which Sindher co-wrote with Melanie Forchetti, follows “Zach (Gottsagen), a young man with Down syndrome who helps run his family’s struggling animal shelter alongside his sister Sophie (Ritch), who returns home following their mother’s death. As Sophie confronts the life she left behind, an unexpected reunion with a former love forces her to decide whether to return to the future she planned or embrace a second chance at home.” Spencer Neville also stars.
After breaking out with her 2025 short, “Flight 182,” Sindher makes her feature directorial debut with “A Reason to Stay.” In April, she was named as one of seven fellows for the Sundance Institute’s Cultural Impact Residency.
“This is a universal film about families we build and the power of people coming together for something bigger than themselves,” said producer White. “Zack has an extraordinary ability to bring honesty and emotional truth to the screen, and Rippin is exactly the kind of filmmaker who can honor that while making a film that feels cinematic, funny and deeply human.”
Gottsagen made his big-screen debut starring alongside Shia LaBeouf and Dakota Johnson in “The Peanut Butter Falcon.” His most recent film credit was the 2025 Netflix thriller “Night Always Comes” with Vanessa Kirby. Ritch is probably best known for her roles as Zoe Powell on CBS’ “S.W.A.T.” and Joey on Netflix’s “The Haunting of Hill House.” Her last big-screen role was in Prime Video’s 2023 drama film “On a Wing and a Prayer,” which starred Dennis Quaid and Heather Graham.
Gottsagen is repped by Advanced Management. Ritch is repped by the Joseph Le Talent Agency. Neville is repped by Innovative Artists.
