‘Entourage’ Star Kevin Connolly And Patrick Marino Bring Hollywood Nostalgia Back With ‘Lice’

Hollywood is watching closely as "Entourage" star Kevin Connolly and entrepreneur Patrick Marino turn their podcasting powerhouse, Action Park Media, into a full-scale entertainment studio, one that’s blending celebrity storytelling with strategic business growth. The Los Angeles–based company, best known for its bold mix of nostalgia, authenticity, and innovation, is now taking its biggest leap yet with its upcoming feature film “Lice,” starring Emile Hirsch, Justin Long, and Connolly himself. The project marks Action Park’s official entry into scripted film and television production, and it’s setting the stage for a new era of creator-led studios.

Launched with a focus on premium podcasts that feel like Hollywood conversations, Action Park Media has evolved into a creative hub sitting at the intersection of entertainment, sports, and digital culture. The company’s breakout hit, “Victory: The Podcast,” reunites Connolly with "Entourage" creator Doug Ellin, offering fans a raw, behind-the-scenes look at the iconic HBO series.

Another flagship show, “No Gruffs Given,” hosted by former NHL player Sean Avery, delivers unfiltered sports talk and personality-driven storytelling that resonates with audiences craving authenticity over polish. Each project embodies Action Park’s core DNA, celebrity storytelling that feels intimate, unscripted, and refreshingly real.

Behind the creative firepower is Patrick Marino, a business strategist who spent more than two decades building M Group Companies, a national real-estate and investment firm. His expertise in structure, partnerships, and scalability has helped Action Park Media transition from a passion project to a scalable studio.

That partnership, Connolly’s Hollywood instincts and Marino’s strategic precision, has made Action Park a standout player in an industry where celebrity-driven ventures often struggle to find longevity.

Action Park Media’s ambitions don’t stop at "Lice." The company is currently developing a documentary series with Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Steve James, best known for "Hoop Dreams," centered around Pro Football Hall of Fame nominees. It’s a natural progression for a studio that thrives at the crossroads of sports, culture, and character-driven storytelling.

Marino told The Blast the partnership is “a blend of passion and precision,” a phrase that mirrors how the company approaches every production it touches.

As reported by Variety earlier this year, the studio’s debut movie, “Lice,” unites Emile Hirsch ("Once Upon a Time in Hollywood"), Justin Long ("Barbarian"), and Kevin Connolly ("Entourage") for a gruesome, genre-twisting horror project already generating buzz at Cannes. Highland Film Group is handling worldwide sales, signaling Action Park Media’s arrival on the global film stage.

Described as a terrifying mashup of "The Breakfast Club" and "Lord of the Flies," the story follows a parasitic lice outbreak on Long Island that descends into chaos. Production kicked off in March in Canada under first-time feature director Jonathan Bensimon, working from a script by Anthony Musella and Shaun Harris ("The Hemingway Thief"), based on an original concept from Connolly himself.

Set in the 1980s, “Lice” centers on a deadly parasitic outbreak that sweeps through a Long Island high school, sending the campus into full military lockdown. As panic spreads, the infected students turn on one another in a violent fight for survival.

Emile Hirsch stars as Mr. Shanker, a burned-out science teacher who rediscovers his purpose while investigating the bloodthirsty mites. Justin Long plays Principal Van, a well-meaning administrator who quickly unravels under pressure, while Kevin Connolly takes on the role of Detective Sikorski, a determined cop on the outside racing to stop the outbreak before it devours the entire town.

Connolly produces alongside Jeremy Alter and Gary Goldman, who previously teamed with "Entourage" creator Doug Ellin on the dramedy pilot "Ramble On," starring Charlie Sheen, Connolly, and Kevin Dillon.

With its nostalgic ‘80s undertones, ensemble cast, and bold creative vision, "Lice" marks a defining moment for Action Park Media, the point where the company’s blend of storytelling instinct and business precision evolves from audio waves to the silver screen.