James Handy’s last film, Kickback, V writer-producer Heidi Anderson-Swan says, has been stalled in pre-production over finances and other issues—and will now be shelved indefinitely. Anderson-Swan described Handy as one of the sweetest people in Hollywood, whi
James Handy had been building toward one more screen credit before he was killed this week at his girlfriend’s home—and now, the project he was committed to appears to be slipping out of reach for good.
Heidi Anderson-Swan, writer and producer of the film “Kickback, V,” said in an interview that Handy was “one of the sweetest people” she’d met in Hollywood. She added that he helped her on projects when she was trying to break into the industry, and that she had to have him in her film.
Their final collaboration—a comedy about nerds learning martial arts and teaching their hard-nosed karate sensei life lessons in return—won’t move forward as planned. Anderson-Swan said the film was stalled in pre-production due to numerous issues. including finances. and that the movie will not be released.
The tragedy has also left Anderson-Swan still in shock. She told how she continues to be heartbroken over Handy’s “brutal slaying,” which police say came at the hands of his girlfriend’s son. She recounted that Handy talked about his partner often and that he adored her.
Police identified the suspected killer as 44-year-old Michael Gledhill. He has been arrested and booked into jail for murder, and he is being held on a $2 million bond. Investigators have not released a motive.
Handy’s career spanned decades. with work across dozens of films and TV shows. but the final chapter is now caught in the collision of unfinished production and a case that still has no stated motive. For Anderson-Swan. the loss is personal—built from years of knowing Handy through her own early career. and now made permanent by the reality that their film will never be seen.
James Handy Kickback V Heidi Anderson-Swan final project shelved indefinitely pre-production finances murder arrest Michael Gledhill $2 million bond actor death
So they shelved the movie bc money? That’s just wild.
I don’t get how a project can “stall indefinitely” when he literally just died. Like did they already waste the whole budget or what. Also police saying it’s his girlfriend’s son… that’s messed up.
Wait so the bond is 2 million, but no motive?? Sounds like they’re just gonna blame whoever and move on. Also I saw “Kickback, V” trending somewhere and thought it was already out? guess not.
This is heartbreaking. But honestly I’m kinda stuck on the “other issues” part like finances and production stuff… if people loved him they could’ve crowd funded it or something, right? And why does it say he had one more screen credit like that automatically makes the movie cursed now. I hate that he won’t get to be seen on screen.