Chris Pine Steals the Spotlight at THR’s Studio in Park City

Chris Pine is at the Sundance Film Festival to present and promote his new movie, Carousel. The film is having its world premiere at the festival and is currently looking for distribution. Pine is not only the lead actor in the movie, but also one of its producers.

According to The Associated Press, Pine was drawn to Carousel because it felt very different from most scripts he receives. He described the film as quiet and deeply human. “My favorite word for this film is quotidian,” Pine said. “It’s a film in which nothing happens and yet everything happens.”

Carousel is directed by Rachel Lambert and tells a small, personal story set in Cleveland, Ohio. Pine plays Noah, a single father who runs a struggling medical practice. He is dealing with a difficult divorce and worries about his teenage daughter, who is falling into depression. His life becomes more complicated when his high school girlfriend, played by Jenny Slate, returns to town and they reconnect.

While he was at it, Pine had time for a photoshoot with THR, and fans can’t stop gushing about how good he looks.

Chris Pine lookin’ FINE 🔥 at THR’s Studio in Park City pic.twitter.com/bRsSA3orwp

— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) January 24, 2026

Pine said he felt strongly connected to the script and wanted to learn more about Lambert as a filmmaker. After watching her earlier work, he decided to join the project not just as an actor, but also as a producer. One of his conditions for taking part was that the movie be shot in the United States and on film, something that is rare for independent movies today.

Lambert told The Associated Press that Pine’s involvement made a big difference. She praised his presence on set and his support of her vision. “There’s a rareness to him that I don’t see very often in performers,” she said.

At Sundance, Pine is attending screenings, talking about the film, and supporting its search for a distributor. The festival is an important stop for independent films like Carousel, and both Pine and Lambert see it as the right place for the movie’s debut.

In my view, Chris Pine’s presence at Sundance shows a different side of his career. Instead of focusing on big studio films, he is putting his energy behind a small, emotional story. It’s a reminder that well-known actors can still take creative risks and support independent filmmaking.

What do you think about Chris Pine choosing to promote a quiet, low-key film at Sundance? Do you like seeing big stars back smaller projects? Share your thoughts in the comments.