Burt Reynolds touts new film in Palmetto

MANATEE -- He's best known for macho roles, in such films as "Deliverance" and "Semi-Tough," and he's made his share of raunchy movies, including "Striptease" and "Boogie Nights."

But Burt Reynolds is 80 years old now, and he's welcoming the chance to work on something that's a bit more gentle.

"I haven't done a picture in a long time that's a real family, sweet picture," he said. "And I needed to do one. I can't keep jumping out of buildings and doing things like that. I'm too old for that." Reynolds was speaking at a press conference at Southeastern Guide Dogs in Palmetto, where he's in the midst of filming that family, sweet picture.

It's titled "And Then There was Light." Filming will continue through May 5, and producers hope the film will be released in 2017.

At Wednesday's press conference, other cast members entered first and sat at a long table answering questions from a couple dozen area media people. The cast includes Jack Griffo of the Nickolodeon series "The Thundermans," Australian actor Liam McIntyre, who played the title role in the Starz series "Spartacus: Vengeance," Avery Arendes from "Sex Ed" and Castille Landon, who also wrote the screenplay and is directing the film.

The story revolves around a teenage girl (Arendes) who loses her vision. The people at Southeastern do their best to get her a guide dog, but the girl and the dog can't establish a relationship, and she bonds instead with a miniature horse who become her companion animal. Reynolds plays a trainer.

At Wednesday's presentation, the younger actors were eventually joined by Amy Smart, who had recurring roles in "Scrubs" and Justified." She plays Arendes' mother in the film.

Reynolds was the last to join the conference, after about 50 minutes. He was walking with a cane.

""It's a delightful, sweet picture, with a wonderful young cast," Reynolds said. "And a little horse that's a pain in the ... ."

His voice trailed off, and if he finished the sentence, the laughter in the room made the last word indiscernible.

Reynolds acknowledged his tough-guy screen image, and said he welcomes the chance to play something a bit different.

"I have played a lot of roles that were kind of rough and tough and all that kind of stuff," he said. "But I am very happy to have the opportunity to play a hopefully likeable guy who falls in love with a little horse."

Marty Clear, features writer/columnist, can be reached at 941-708-7919. Follow twitter.com/martinclear.

This story was originally published April 27, 2016 at 11:59 PM with the headline "Burt Reynolds touts new film in Palmetto ."