Indio previously appeared alongside his father in 2005’s ‘Kiss Kiss Bang Bang’

NEED TO KNOW

• Indio Downey was announced as the lead in ‘Love In Vein,’ an adaptation of Ryan Leone’s 2014 novel ‘Wasting Talent,’ on Oct. 25
• The 33-year-old son of Robert Downey Jr. has been open about his own sobriety, and stars in the dark comedy about addiction
• Production is scheduled to begin in Los Angeles in March 2027

Indio Downey is following in his father’s footsteps.

The 33-year-old musician and eldest son of Robert Downey Jr. has been cast in his debut lead role for the upcoming indie film Love In Vein, Deadline reported Monday, Oct. 27.

Downey is set to star as Damien in the Will De Los Santos-written and directed adaptation of the late Ryan Leone’s 2014 book Wasting Talent, a raw dark comedy that follows Damien and his drug-addled friends through addiction’s highs and lows.

Love In Vein will show Damien as he “navigates addiction, love and self-destruction…set against LA’s underground landscape, the film follows Damien through a fragile collision of drugs, relationships, music and survival as the people around him struggle with their own versions of desire, dependency and escape,” according to the outlet.

Principal photography is scheduled to start in March 2027 in Los Angeles.

“Ryan left behind a brutally honest novel about addiction, love and Los Angeles. Since his passing, making Love In Vein has taken on an even deeper meaning for me. I want to honor his voice and the rawness of the book without softening its edges,” De Los Santos said in a statement.

Chris Hanley, who produced American Psycho, Spring Breakers and The Virgin Suicides, added that he’s “thrilled” to work with the Downey family once again, per Deadline.

“I produced Two Girls and a Guy with Robert many years ago, and now getting to work with Indio on Love In Vein feels like a wonderful full-circle moment. Indio brings exactly the vulnerability and authenticity this role needs,” Hanley said.

Ahead of Love In Vein‘s release, Downey has been open about his own sobriety journey.

“I was in a place of suffering when making [Cigarettes in Bed], but I was also praying and meditating and trying to find a way to overcome that,” he told PEOPLE exclusively in November 2023 while discussing his debut EP.

His song “Dume” was “about past addiction,” he added.

“‘Dume’ is my biggest fear, but within the context of a song. It’s a metaphor for the fatal attraction to self-destruction. I hope people who hear the song remember that there’s beauty in the darkness,” Downey continued.

At the time of the interview, the “Born Again” artist was 18 months sober.

“I feel I’m going through a transformation,” Downey said. “I’m trying to push myself to just improve in a lot of areas that I haven’t done that need improvement. I’m changing slowly but surely.”

Downey’s previous credits include the independent crime thriller Run For Roxanne and the 2026 dark comedy and satirical film Outcome, which also featured Jonah Hill, Keanu Reeves, Cameron Diaz, Martin Scorsese, Susan Lucci, and Kaia Gerber.

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He also appeared in 2005’s Kiss Kiss Bang Bang alongside his father, who he notes has always been supportive of his endeavors.

“My dad actually really inspired me to play music when I was young,” he told PEOPLE. “He sings, and he has an album as well that I listen to a lot. I was very fortunate to grow up in an artistic family, which allowed me to develop my creativity and my talents.”

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