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EXCLUSIVE: Olivia Thirlby (_Juno, Dredd_) and Nelsan Ellis (_True Blood_) have joined the ensemble cast of _The Stanford Prison Experiment_, about the infamous 1971 psychological exercise in
which college students exhibited shocking cruel and sadistic behavior when divided into camps of prisoners and prison guards. Helmed by Kyle Alvarez (_C.O.G._), the Tim Talbott-scripted
film stars Ezra Miller, Michael Angarano, and Billy Crudup as Dr. Philip Zimbardo, the Stanford professor who would later write the book on the psychology of good and evil behavior. Thirlby
will play Christina Zimbardo, Professor Zimbardo’s wife and fellow academic. She’s currently starring in O.P.C. at the American Repertory Theater with Melissa Leo and next appears onscreen
in _The Wedding Ringer_ in January. Ellis, who had a beloved run as Lafayette Reynolds on HBO’s _True Blood_, will play Jesse Fletcher in _Stanford_. He appeared as Martin Luther King, Jr.
in _Lee Daniels’ The Butler_ and was seen earlier this year in Universal’s James Brown biopic _Get On Up_. Also landing key roles in the ensemble of youngsters are Tye Sheridan (_Mud, Joe,
Tree Of Life_), who’ll play prisoner Peter Mitchell; James Frecheville (_Animal Kingdom, The Drop_) as guard Townshend; Johnny Simmons (_Klondike, Frank And Cindy, The Perks Of Being A
Wallflower_) as prisoner Jeff Jansen, and Ki Hong Lee (_The Maze Runner, The Whispers_) as prisoner Gavin Chan. Sandbar Pictures and Abandon Features financed _Stanford _after teaming up on
the recent Helen Hunt pic _Ride_. Coup d’Etat Films’ Brent Emery is producer alongside Lizzie Friedman, Greg Little, Brian Geraghty and Lauren Bratman. UTA packaged the film and is repping
domestic sales. WATCH ON DEADLINE Thirlby is repped by CAA, 3 Arts Entertainment, and Hansen Jacobsen. Ellis is repped by ICM Partners and Brookside Artist Management. Sheridan is repped by
WME, Mosaic Media, and Stone, Meyer, Genow, Smelkinson, and Binder. Frecheville is repped by UTA, The Schiff Company, Sloan, Offer, Weber and Dern, and Active Artists Management in
Australia. Simmons is repped by ICM Partners, Anonymous Content, and Sloan, Offer, Weber and Dern. Lee is repped by Stone Manners Salners and 3 Arts Entertainment.