The Last Producer

The Last Producer is a 2000 American drama film directed by and starring Burt Reynolds. It also featured Sean Astin, Ann-Margret, Lauren Holly, Rod Steiger, and Benjamin Bratt. It was also referred to as The Final Hit in final packaging and promotional materials. It is the final film to be directed by Reynolds before his death in 2018.

Plot
Sonny Wexler is an aging, washed-up, veteran film producer with a pill-popping wife. In his heyday, Sonny produced an Oscar nominated movie, but now he finds he's a "has been" in a Hollywood that's been taken over by a younger generation, personified by studio executive Damon Black and foreign investors.

Knowing that he is soon going to die or be forgotten, he decides to wager all his strength in one last movie, something for which he can be remembered. His chance comes in the form of a brilliant screenplay optioned from a promising young writer. But when Black undercuts the deal and eases Sonny out, Sonny has seventy-two hours to come up with enough money to purchase the script for himself. In desperation, he turns to the mafia to borrow the $50,000 he needs.

Production
The film was financed by the Kushner Locke Company.

Filming started May 1999.

Home media
The film was released on home video in Iceland and Argentina in 2000 before airing on television in the U.S. in 2001. It was later re-titled The Last Hit for its U.S. home video release.