As fans mourn the death of James Van Der Beek, one of the late actor’s final film roles is set to hit theaters next month.
In the trailer for The Gatespremiering March 13 via Lionsgate Premiere, Van Der Beek plays murderous Pastor Jacob, who hunts three young Black community in a gated community after they witness him kill someone. Meanwhile, the local residents blame the trio as Pastor Jacob closes in.
Written and directed by John Burr, the R-rated thriller also stars Mason Gooding, Algee Smith and Keith Powers.
In a statement shared with Deadline following Van Der Beek’s death at age 48, Burr thanked the actor’s family for “granting us the precious time with him that we had” while making The Gates.
“We were incredibly fortunate to have worked with him on this film. He brought experience and perspective to the role, and he built profound relationships with his fellow cast members and with the crew,” he said in part. “And while he was deeply dedicated to his performance as the flawed, amoral antagonist of our story, between scenes he effortlessly morphed back into the grounded, charming conversationalist he was at his core.”
James Van Der Beek as Jacob in ‘The Gates’
Sherwood Jones
Burr added of his text communications with Van Der Beek in recent months, “His words were filled with energy and punctuated with exclamation points even as his health must have been in decline.”
In addition to Van Der Beek’s role in The Gateshe will recur in the upcoming Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios series Ellea prequel to the hit movie Legally Blondepremiering on July 1. He will play Dean Wilson, the city’s new mayoral candidate and current school district superintendent.
