HEIDI GARDNER AND WILLIAM H. MACY CAST IN CASEY TWENTER’S INDIE DRAMEDY ‘THE SWIMMING LESSON’

(Heidi Gardner / Brianne Willis, William H. Macy / Jonny Marlow)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — May 19, 2026,  Los Angeles, CA  — Heidi Gardner (Saturday Night Live) and William H. Macy (Shameless) are set to star in The Swimming Lesson, an indie dramedy written by Casey Twenter and Jeff Robison. The film marks Twenter’s solo directorial debut, with longtime creative collaborator Mark Williams (Lost in Translation, Code 3, Eastbound & Down) joining behind the camera as director of photography. Production is set to begin this summer in Kansas City. 

The Swimming Lesson follows Tay (Gardner), a directionless single mother who returns to her childhood home after her life in Los Angeles unravels. She soon finds herself locked in a custody battle over her son, Albee, an autistic child who’s obsessed with the ocean, but deathly afraid of swimming. 

Macy joins in a supporting role as Tay’s foul-mouthed father Leonard, a hard-edged but deeply loyal presence whose bluntness often masks the ways he continues to show up for his daughter and grandson.

“We knew Tay needed an actor who could carry the humor, chaos, and heartbreak of this story, and Heidi is exactly that,” said Twenter. “From there, the goal was surrounding her with a supporting ensemble that could meet her at that level, and there’s no better place to start than William H. Macy. Bill brings the bite, warmth and lived-in humanity Leonard needs, and I’m thrilled to be working with him again.”

Dan Koetting’s KP’s Remain is producing, along with Robison’s Kindling Productions. Jen Greenstreet, founder of Just Like You Films, and COO Mandi Kearns have joined as producers. Composer Mateo Messina (Hulu’s Casual) has also signed on; he is best known for his longtime collaborations with Jason Reitman, including Juno, Up in the Air, Thank You for Smoking, and Young Adult. Casting is by Stefanie Seifer and Hailey Giles of Spark Casting, with additional roles currently being cast.

Twenter and Robison previously co-wrote Rudderless, William H. Macy’s feature directorial debut, which premiered as the Closing Night Film at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival and was later acquired by Paramount and Samuel Goldwyn Films. 

Heidi Gardner is an actor and writer who starred on Saturday Night Live for eight seasons, culminating in the show's historic 50th season. Gardner recently starred in All Out on Broadway alongside Sarah Silverman, Jason Mantzoukas, and Craig Robinson. She recurs on the new NBC series The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins, and can also be seen on Apple TV’s Shrinking opposite Jason Segel as well as the latest season of YOU for Netflix. Other credits include VEEP, Superstore, The Other Two, GIRLS5EVA and The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. On the feature side, Gardner is upcoming in The Sham, Scary Movie 6, as well as Judgment Day, opposite Will Ferrell, Zac Efron and Regina King. Previous credits include Hustle opposite Adam Sandler, Life of The Party, Otherhood, and the animated films Leo and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. A proud Kansas City native and Chiefs fan, Gardner has become a go-to commentator for Fox Sports, and Eli and Peyton Manning’s Manningcast. Gardner got her start at The Groundlings Main Company in Los Angeles.

William H. Macy is an Oscar® and Golden Globe® nominee, an Emmy® and Actor Award® winner, and a writer in theater, film, and television. He starred in the Showtime series Shameless, for which he received six Emmy® nominations and three SAG-AFTRA Actor Awards® for Best Actor in a Comedy Series. Macy's film credits include Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, Seabiscuit, Pleasantville, Magnolia, Boogie Nights, Jurassic Park III, The Cooler, Wild Hogs, and Fargo, for which he received an Oscar® nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Macy made his feature directorial debut with Rudderless, the closing film at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival which was acquired by Paramount and Samuel Goldwyn Films. Macy can be seen in the recently released remake of The Running Man, as well as the Oscar®-nominated Train Dreams on Netflix, and the upcoming new Hulu series from Dan Fogelman, The Land. Macy is a founding member of the Atlantic Theater Company. 

Gardner is repped by CAA and OPE Partners. Macy is repped by UTA.