The C&I reader favorite plays a tribal police officer on the Thunderstone reservation trying to stop a gang war.
Saban Films dropped the first trailer Monday for Gangland, the upcoming drama — originally known as Keep Quiet — starring C&I reader favorite Lou Diamond Phillips. And to paraphrase Leonardo DiCaprio’s much-quoted line in Django Unchained: Gentlemen, you had our curiosity — now you have our attention.
Set to open July 10 in digital/on-demand and limited theatrical release, Gangland has Phillips cast as Teddy Sharp, a tribal police officer on the Thunderstone reservation whose past reaches out to backhand him during his attempts to maintain peace in his community.
As we recently noted in our preview of Summer 2026 premieres, Sharp has his hands full and his patience tested while dealing with a by-the-book new partner (Dana Namerode) and a vengeful ex-con. Elisha Pratt (Killers of the Flower Moon, True Detective) plays the prodigal bad boy, Richie, who’s newly released from prison and eager to reunite with fellow gang members while settling old scores.
Meanwhile, Teddy wrestles with other demons from his past — and can’t forgive himself for unwittingly inviting one into his town years earlier.
Directed by Vincent Grashaw (Bang Bang) from a script by Zach Montague, Gangland had its world premiere under the Keep Quiet title in 2025 at the Oldenburg International Film Festival, and its North American premiere two months ago at the Dallas International Film Festival.
“This story is incredibly universal,” Phillips told The Hollywood Reporter. “Yes, it deals with Native American gangs. But it could just as well be the Latino gang experience, which I dealt with in Stand and Deliver and in Filly Brown, or the experience of the Asian-American or the African-American community.
“You put your heart and soul into [an independent movie] like this,” Phillips added, “and there’s not a lot of money, and there’s not a lot of time. But as hard as it is, and as difficult as it is, you commit to a project like this and make something that you’re proud of. It’s a film that deserves to be seen by a very, very wide audience.”
Other members of the cast include Nick Stahl (Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines), Kimberly Guerrero (It: Welcome to Derry), and Lane Factor (Reservation Dogs).
Here is the first Saban Films trailer for Gangland.
