Washington, [United States], According to The Hollywood Reporter, the cast of the much anticipated sports film “Smudge the Blades” has expanded. ‘The Hangover’ star Ed Helms has joined Paulina Alexis from ‘Reservation Dogs’ and Jana Schmieding from Rutherford Falls in the next film directed by writer-director Cody Lightning.

According to the magazine, the movie has started filming in Edmonton, Canada, and is anticipated to be shown at film festivals in 2026. The Treaty 6 Blades, an Indigenous under-18 hockey club from northern Alberta, are the focus of the movie. The players are attempting to maximise their time in a competitive, often violent local hockey league during their last year of eligibility.

Lightning, who portrays Willie Gladue in the sports drama, expressed his enthusiasm by stating, “High school football in Texas is smaller than Rez hockey in Canada,” according to The Hollywood Reporter. Having this amazing group to depict the experiences of Indigenous hockey players both on and off the rink is really an honour.

Treycen Wuttunnee, Isaiah Kakepetum, River Rayne Thomas, Elijah James Lee Moar, Ezekiel James Mekanek, and Tyler Halcrow, who play on the hockey team, are among the young Indigenous actors that appear in the movie.

Lightning’s character develops a romantic interest in Jana Schmieding’s character, a hockey mum.

After Hey, Viktor!, a 2023 mockumentary that screened at Tribeca and the Toronto International Film Festival, Smudge the Blades is Lightning’s second feature film. At the Canadian Screen Awards, it was nominated three times.

Samuel Miller co-wrote the script, while Josh Jackson, Kyle Thomas, Sara Corry, Hayley Morin, and Dylan Morin are the producers. Among the executive producers is Ed Helms.