Helen Hunt To Direct And Star In ‘Ride’

Helen Hunt is preparing to direct, produce, and star in Ride, the story of a magazine editor who travels cross-country to be with her son after he decides to drop out of school and become a surfer.

The 50-year-old actress, who received an Academy Award nomination for her daring performance as Cheryl in The Sessions” a role that required her to be naked for much of the movie, has also written the screenplay.

Also set to appear in Ride is Luke Wilson, David “Angel” Zayas (of television’s Dexter fame), Richard Kind, and Leonor Varela.

Actor Brenton Thwaites has been cast as Hunt’s son.

According to Deadline, Thwaites “plays a 20-year-old NYU student who moves from New York to California for the summer. He leaves behind his strong-willed magazine editor mother (Hunt) and when she hears he’s chucking school for surfing, she follows him.

“There, he pursues his dream and she pursues him. Along the way she meets a surf teacher (Wilson) who brings her to life in every way. Both mother and son find their own version of love, sex and an unexpected state of grace in a most unlikely place.”

Ride will be the second picture directed by Helen Hunt, following her 2007 debut Then She Found Me.

The actress/director first rose to prominence in the sitcom Mad About You, playing one half of a newly married couple starting their life together in New York City before she was cast opposite Jack Nicholson in the romantic comedy As Good As It Gets in 1997.

Her performance won her an Academy Award for Best Actress.

Hunt has also starred in Twister, What Women Want, and Pay It Forward.

Are you a fan of Helen Hunt? Will you be excited to see Ride when it is released next year?