Gil Cates, Jr. will direct and Sean Astin and Chris Mulkey will star in the thriller “The Surface,” written by Jeff Gendelman and independently-financed by newcomer Good Note Productions. The film is about two strangers, each at the end of their rope, who suddenly meet in the middle of the unpredictable waters of Lake Michigan following a small plane crash. Principal photography is set to start in Milwaukee next week.

Astin is best known for his work in “The Lord Of The Rings” trilogy and “Rudy.” Mulkey was recently seen in “The Purge,” and co-stars in the upcoming Tom Hanks drama “Captain Phillips.”

Cates recently co-produced the upcoming Steve Jobs biopic “JOBS” starring Ashton Kutcher, Josh Gad, Dermot Mulroney, and Matthew Modine. Prior to Jobs, Cates directed the 2011 feature film “Lucky” starring Colin Hanks, Ari Graynor, Ann-Margret, and Jeffrey Tambor.

Before turning his attention to screenwriting, Gendelman guest starred on numerous television series including “Law and Order” and “Beverly Hills 90210,” and co-starred with Christopher Lambert in the film “Splitsville.”

Director of photography Jimmy Sammarco, will lens the film. A Milwaukee native, he shot the critically acclaimed documentary “Song Sung Blue” as well as the recently-completed feature “On the Verge.”

(pictured: Sean Astin and a friend at the recently-wrapped Comic Con)