Producer Reveals Casting Emily Blunt & Chris Evans for 'Pain Hustlers' Felt like Unlocking 'Level 40' Cheat Codes

The Big Picture

Pain Hustlers explores the intersection of healthcare industry and capitalism, uncovering the corruption within.

Lawrence Grey was intrigued by the compelling narrative that explores the aftermath of opioid usage despite widespread awareness of its perils.

The movie delves into the intricate moral dilemmas faced by its characters, shedding light on the extremes individuals may resort to for financial benefit and how corruption can inexorably engulf their very essence.

Producer Lawrence Grey has been involved in a wide range of projects, including the hit 2016 horror film Lights Out and the rom-com Hope Springs. For his next project, Grey partnered with director David Yates and Netflix for the crime drama Pain Hustlers. In a recent interview, Grey discussed what attracted him to the film.

According to Grey, Pain Hustlers explores the intersection of healthcare and capitalism, examining how the healthcare industry has become corrupted. Based on the novel by Evan Hughes, the film stars Emily Blunt as Liza Drake, a single mother who lives in her mother's garage. The story takes a dark turn when Liza is offered a job by Pete Brenner, played by Chris Evans, who is a client at the strip club where she works. Pete's company, Zanna Pharmaceuticals, is struggling, and Liza uses her persuasive skills to promote a dangerous cancer drug to doctors, unaware of the deadly consequences. As Liza begins to see financial success, she realizes it is too late to undo the damage.

In his interview, Grey discusses the aspects of this particular opioid scandal that resonated with him, his collaborations with Blunt and Evans, the issue of corruption within the healthcare system, and his approach to selecting projects to produce. Additionally, he provides extensive insights into the upcoming Bruce Lee biopic, directed by Ang Lee (the acclaimed director of Brokeback Mountain), as well as his next venture, the family-friendly film titled Family Switch. Furthermore, Grey touches upon the intriguing concept suggested by Jennifer Garner, which gives a fresh perspective to a classic trope. For a full transcript of this interview, please refer to the following:

Pain Hustlers

A woman, facing financial difficulties while raising her daughter, is forced to take a job out of desperation. She finds herself employed at a struggling pharmaceutical startup, unaware of the perilous criminal operation she has inadvertently become a part of.

Movie Details:

Release Date: October 27, 2023

Director: David Yates

Cast: Chris Evans, Emily Blunt, Chloe Coleman, Catherine O'Hara

Runtime: 2 Hours and 2 Minutes

Main Genre: Drama

Genres: Drama, Crime

Where to watch: Netflix

What are some surprising aspects of being a Hollywood producer that people outside the industry might not know?

LAWRENCE GREY: It's a great question. Many people may assume that a producer is solely responsible for securing funding or working closely with the director and actors. However, I view the role of a producer as somewhat of a futurist. It involves predicting cultural trends, identifying material that resonates with artists, and ultimately shaping culture through our work. It's much more of a visionary role than most people realize.

Image from Netflix

In Hollywood, numerous producers are in search of the next remarkable script. What is the key to discovering content that captivates everyone's attention? How do you uncover the hidden gem when everyone is after it?

GREY: Unlike many producers who simply find scripts, I take pride in being heavily involved in the creative process of material creation. The majority of the movies I've worked on have originated from my interest in a specific area or subject matter. I enjoy starting from scratch and collaborating closely with writers and directors to shape the final product. Sometimes, it all begins with a simple yet captivating idea.

Out of the films you've produced, which ones do you believe underwent the most unexpected changes during the editing process?

GREY: The film that comes to mind is The Laundromat, which I had the privilege of working on alongside Steven Soderbergh and Meryl Streep. This particular movie had a unique structure, consisting of interconnected stories. Throughout the filmmaking process, we discovered that certain parts of the movie were resonating exceptionally well, while others needed improvement. Steven, being the masterful editor he is, fearlessly removed any elements that did not meet the desired level of quality. Consequently, the film underwent a remarkable and unexpected transformation, deviating significantly from the original script.

Image via IMDB

Did you have a large amount of unused footage during editing?

GREY: [Laughs] I can't give you an exact duration, but there was definitely a substantial amount, yes.

I was drawn to this material because I wanted to explore the topic of opioids. I had been following the news stories, but the ones I had come across either seemed cliché or lacked the ability to engage an audience. Then I stumbled upon Evans' article, which was exceptionally well-researched and surprised me in two ways. Firstly, it was the first time I had seen pharma executives facing serious felony convictions and jail time. Previous stories only resulted in minor consequences and fines, so this felt like a significant shift. Secondly, it wasn't your typical opioid story. Most narratives focused on pharma companies knowingly addicting people to opioids without considering the consequences. However, this story tackled the current issue of doctors continuing to prescribe these medications despite widespread knowledge of the risks. It highlighted the intersection between our healthcare system, capitalism, and the corruption within the industry. Additionally, what fascinated me was the blatant disregard these individuals displayed in court transcripts and online chat rooms. They lived a lifestyle centered around excessive personal gain, completely oblivious to the moral boundaries they had crossed. This aspect added another layer of complexity to the story that I found intriguing.

I observe shows like Mad Men, where Matt Weiner explores the journey of feminism in America. Rather than focusing on the women's liberation movement, he cleverly portrays it through the decadent Madison Avenue executives. Hence, examining the marketplace through a capitalist lens often provides the most captivating approach to narrating complex subject matter.

Image via Netflix

I am a huge fan of Chris Evans and Emily Blunt, just like many others. Having both of them in a movie together feels like unlocking a secret code in a video game, doesn't it?

GREY: It's more like unlocking 40 of them. This movie has been a dream come true for me. It's like ticking off items on my bucket list, winning the lottery, one after the other. It all began with David, who I've admired for his work in Harry Potter, as well as his brilliant storytelling in State of Play and Sex Traffic. These two movies beautifully exposed criminal conspiracies in an authentic and vivid manner. When I found out that David was available, it was a pleasant surprise. He's not just the caretaker of the biggest franchise in history, but he's also willing to delve into a complex and original narrative.

And from there, I mean, Emily was our top pick without a doubt. The character necessitated someone who could fully grasp the complexities of this woman's journey, and Emily immediately embraced the challenge wholeheartedly. Women are often typecast as the virtuous mother or loyal sister in films, but she desired to portray a character with much more daring and moral ambiguity, and she truly embodies that throughout the movie. I distinctly remember our first scouting trip in Atlanta when we met Emily. When we asked, "Who would be your ideal choice for this role?" everyone in the room unanimously said Chris Evans. So, it's been an incredibly fortunate journey as producers.

This film explores the question, "What are you willing to do for money?" The twisted reality is that a significant number of people would answer yes if they were offered a million dollars to sell products that would likely harm others. It's a disturbing truth.

GREY: The extent of the corruption is deeply disturbing. What makes it even more troubling is how this corruption is ingrained in the system, with the manipulation and deceit being gradually revealed. Through thorough examination of various real pharmaceutical companies, we observed the subtle and deceptive nature of this corruption as one delves deeper into their world. Initially, it may seem justifiable to think, "I am assisting terminally ill individuals in relieving their pain. If the product is effective, what harm could there be?" And to a certain extent, there is truth in that belief. For someone battling cancer with limited time left, pain relief is a truly invaluable gift. However, as we uncover the fact that these companies prescribe the medication for minor ailments such as headaches, and engage in widespread insurance fraud, coercing insurance providers into believing that these patients suffer from conditions like cancer and require the medication, it becomes incredibly difficult to comprehend their lack of concern.

Image via Netflix

If you're making a significant amount of money that can truly change your family's life, I can understand how corruption can consume one's soul, as it is a temptation many would succumb to.

GREY: Absolutely. It was shocking to see that the audience's main takeaway from the first screening of the film was how relatable this woman's journey was. Despite the story being specific and set in a distinct world, everyone found elements of it in their own personal experiences. It made them question the moral boundaries they would cross to support their family or help a sick relative. Moreover, it shed light on the challenges faced by individuals from a low socioeconomic background in their pursuit of a meaningful and fulfilling life. It's a complex issue indeed.

I asked David Yates the same question and I'm curious to hear your perspective. What insights did you gain from the early friends and family screenings of the film that influenced the final product?

GREY: Fortunately, even in those initial screenings, the audience formed a strong connection with the material. Our focus was on creating a film that blends various stylistic elements such as testimonials, freeze frames, and intriguing directorial techniques that David brilliantly integrated into the movie to enhance its energy and accessibility. However, we also wanted to strike the right balance as the protagonist's journey unfolds—from her initial introduction to this exciting and decadent world, to her deeper understanding of the victim's story. This required incorporating a more dramatic and traditional narrative style.

Image via Netflix

If you could get the financing to make anything you want, what would you make and why?

GREY: This question is truly fascinating. How much time do we have? It feels like you're delving into the depths of my inner being!

Typically, when I've inquired about this matter to producers or directors, they mention a particular screenplay that they have struggled with for a long time without making much progress. I believe that by releasing it to the world, perhaps it will bring some assistance.

GREY: I've been incredibly fortunate to secure funding for projects that I'm genuinely passionate about. Currently, I'm involved in an upcoming project, which I'm excited to announce, although it's not officially confirmed yet. It's a one-of-a-kind biographical film about the legendary Bruce Lee. The esteemed director Ang Lee will be at the helm. This venture has been a long-standing endeavor for me.

GREY: This project holds a special place in my heart. It was the very first undertaking for my company. We started right from the beginning, securing the rights and patiently waiting for our director to deeply delve into this person's remarkable life and convey the story in the most authentic way possible. If money was no object, I would gladly write the check for it.

You know, I have extensive knowledge about Bruce Lee, and what I'm interested in knowing is, how do you determine whether it would work best as a feature film or if it should be a limited series or even a three-season show? Bruce, being such an iconic figure, has countless incredible stories to tell, so how do you make that choice?

GREY: Your skills as a producer are impressive. The quality of these questions is outstanding. To be honest, when we initially developed the first draft of the screenplay, we were hesitant to make any edits. We wanted to ensure that we captured all the valuable elements. Consequently, the script ended up being around 350 pages long, and we even contemplated whether it could be transformed into a limited series. However, we eventually decided against it because Ang desired to incorporate action sequences and accurately depict Bruce Lee's unique movements, which are as distinctive as Michael Jackson's dancing. Ang felt that doing justice to these aspects on the small screen would be challenging, so we recognized that we had a specific medium to work with. As a result, we had to be meticulous in finding creative ways to tell the story. Ideally, we would have loved to expand it over several more hours, but currently, we are looking at a runtime of approximately two and a half hours.

Image via Warner Bros.

I don't intend to cause trouble or provide any spoilers, but I believe that movies are most effective when they focus on specific segments of someone's life rather than trying to cover everything. How are you approaching the task of honoring the legend while also creating a movie?

GREY: What we realized was that the period in Bruce's life during the production of Enter the Dragon was a time when numerous thematic elements converged, and there was a significant amount of drama and conflict. We decided to use this as a central point around which his world revolves. From there, the director would describe it as a vibrant exploration of his life, with a traditional nonnarrative structure that is thematically and experientially interconnected.

Do you have a script that everyone is satisfied with and ready to start filming once the strike is over?

GREY: I think that's correct. Although there is still some fine-tuning to be done, we have made significant progress and are nearing completion.

Switching gears completely, I had the opportunity to produce McG's latest film titled "Family Switch" featuring Jennifer Garner. One crucial aspect of this film, in my opinion, is the inclusion of a line that says, "This feels familiar," drawing a connection to her previous film "13 Going on 30."

GREY: It's interesting that you mention that - perhaps we should consider becoming producing partners after this interview. When I first embarked on this project, I knew that if we were going to delve into the body switch genre, we couldn't ignore the fact that it has been extensively explored before. I drew inspiration from films like "21 Jump Street," which cleverly deconstructed this subgenre. Early on, I collaborated with the writer to craft a scene where the family expresses complete shock and disbelief, even going as far as claiming it to be a historic first. The mom might say something like, "I feel like I'm 13 going on 30," while the dad exclaims, "I feel like I'm 17 again!" Our characters make playful references to all the iconic body switch movies ever made, as if they have never seen them before.

Image via Netflix

That's very funny, did that end up in the movie?

GREY: Yes, indeed.

That will definitely elicit a tremendous amount of laughter. Personally, I have a strong affinity for body switch movies, and I believe many others share the same sentiment. It would be interesting to discuss this genre further since it is one of those movie conventions that never fails to captivate audiences, just like time travel. Speaking of which, I have a weakness for time travel stories as well.

GREY: Absolutely, it delves into the essence of the saying “put yourself in my shoes and you'll understand what I'm trying to tell you, but you still won't grasp it entirely,” especially when it comes to your kids and how they perceive you. While working on Yes Day, we stumbled upon another book by the same author that explored a simple concept - a role reversal where the child takes charge of bedtime with the parent while the parent reads the story and keeps asking for more books or a glass of water. Inspired by this, I reached out to Jen and proposed the idea of making a body switch movie similar to Yes Day, where the entire family switches roles. We realized that no one had done it before with the father and son swapping bodies, and the mother and daughter doing the same. Jen agreed on one condition - the baby and the dog had to switch bodies as well. This innovation truly transformed the movie because one of the most comical aspects is the baby and dog swapping bodies, requiring the family to solve this bewildering predicament and find someone to care for them. They come across a German dog trainer who adores dogs but despises babies, yet he ends up looking after a baby who is now a dog and a dog who is now a baby throughout the entire film. It's reminiscent of Jack Jack's surprises in The Incredibles, where we frequently cut back to this man becoming increasingly frustrated until he witnesses the dog actually using the toilet and perceives himself as the greatest dog trainer in history.

Pain Hustlers can now be streamed on Netflix.