Winning Time standout Newton Mayenge has signed on to lead the upcoming suspense feature Manacle, a ticking-clock thriller written and directed by Justin Galindo (Loco).
Mayenge stars as Detective Mills, a relentless investigator pulled into a life-or-death case after a decorated soldier awakens strapped with explosives while his daughter has been abducted. With time running out and lives on the line, Mills must work alongside the desperate father to unravel a dangerous mystery and outsmart an unseen enemy before it’s too late.
Galindo will produce the film through JIG Reel Studios with Mayenge and casting director Natasha Ward. Production is scheduled to begin in early 2026 in Oklahoma City.
Best known for portraying NBA legend Jim Chones on HBO’s Winning Time, Mayenge recently wrapped The Other Side of Fame and will next appear in the drama Leave, hitting theaters in January 2026.
Galindo, an award-winning filmmaker, most recently directed Amazon Prime’s Loco, while Ward brings more than 200 casting credits and is a member of the Casting Society of America.