Daria Rae is expanding her work outside the wrestling ring with a role in the upcoming thriller Lazarus Syndrome. Rae, the TNA Wrestling on-screen authority figure previously known to WWE audiences as Daria Berenato, has been announced as part of a cast that also includes Tara Reid, Sofia Milos, Al Sapienza, Steve Stanulis, Frankie G and Max B.
The film will be directed by John Bianco and produced through Stanulis Films. Production is scheduled to begin on November 30, with filming set for locations across New Jersey. Further casting and production information is expected to be revealed at a later date.
Rae’s casting gives the performer another acting opportunity while she remains a prominent personality in TNA programming. Though she is currently absent from her authority position as part of an ongoing storyline, the movie announcement places her among a recognizable ensemble for a crime-centered independent thriller.
A Detective Story With A Dark Turn
Lazarus Syndrome centers on a detective whose life changes after he is nearly killed during a drug raid that goes wrong. After surviving the incident, the detective begins dealing with unsettling and unexplained effects, including sharper instincts, fragmented memories and an increasing belief that his recovery may have come with serious consequences.
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The premise combines crime drama elements with psychological and thriller-oriented questions surrounding survival, memory and identity. No details have been announced regarding Rae’s specific character or the size of her role in the production.
Stanulis is set to star in the project alongside Frankie G and Max B, with Max B also composing the film’s soundtrack. The announced cast brings together performers with experience across television, film, music and professional wrestling, giving the project a varied group of personalities for a story built around a detective’s increasingly unstable reality.
Stanulis’ background has been highlighted as an element that connects him to the material. Before establishing himself as an actor and producer, he worked as an NYPD officer and later in private security. His acting credits include appearances in The Sopranos and HBO’s The Deuce, while his work as a producer has included crime stories, dark comedy and character-focused independent films.
“Lazarus Syndrome brings together a dynamic cast with range and presence,” said Armand Peri of New Age PR Agency. “Steve’s real-world background gives him a unique connection to this material, and with John Bianco directing, we believe the film has all the ingredients for a gripping, unpredictable thriller.”
Rae Adds Another Screen Credit To Her Resume
For Rae, the project represents a continuation of a career that has moved between wrestling, television and acting. As Daria Berenato, she became widely known to wrestling fans through her WWE tenure, where she competed as Sonya Deville and later took on an on-screen authority role. Her work in wrestling has consistently included character-driven presentation and television performance in addition to in-ring competition.
That background can translate naturally to a film set, particularly in a genre production where tension, presence and reaction are central to the storytelling. Wrestling performers are frequently asked to convey a character’s motivation quickly in front of a live audience and television cameras, while also working within tightly choreographed environments. A thriller feature presents a different creative process, but it can offer an opportunity to explore those performance skills in another format.
There has been no indication that Rae’s movie role will affect her long-term status with TNA Wrestling. With filming not scheduled to start until late November, and with no character details announced, the current information does not establish how extensive her work on the production will be. The announcement is simply the latest professional venture for a wrestler whose profile has extended beyond the ring.
Current TNA Status Is Part Of The Story
On TNA television, Rae’s current absence has been addressed directly through the company’s ongoing storyline. Rae has been suspended from TNA Wrestling after slapping Indi Hartwell. Fellow authority figure Santino Marella recorded the incident and brought it to the attention of the Board of Directors.
The angle has removed Rae from her usual position of influence for the time being and left questions over when she may return to the authority role. The suspension stems from the confrontation with Hartwell, while Marella’s decision to document and report the incident has added another layer to the situation involving TNA management.
Rae and Marella have occupied notable positions as authority figures on TNA programming, meaning the development is more than a personal conflict in storyline terms. Their roles place them around major decisions and talent issues, and the report to the Board of Directors gives the suspension a formal structure within the company’s on-screen world.
Whether Rae’s eventual return leads to a confrontation with Hartwell, a response toward Marella, or a renewed effort to regain her authority remains to be seen. At present, the suspension remains the key factor in her TNA storyline, while her film casting creates a separate real-world development in her career.
Another Example Of Wrestling’s Expanding Creative Paths
Acting opportunities have long been a natural extension for professional wrestlers, particularly for those who have spent years performing under bright lights and in front of national television audiences. The transition is not automatic, and the demands of film are distinct from wrestling, but the two fields share elements of timing, physicality, character work and camera awareness.
Rae’s casting in Lazarus Syndrome is noteworthy because it comes while she remains an active figure in a major wrestling promotion’s presentation. Rather than representing a departure from wrestling, the role currently appears to be an additional project alongside her TNA connection. The information released so far does not suggest a change to her standing with the company beyond the existing storyline suspension.
The film’s New Jersey production schedule could also allow the team to make use of the region’s established independent-film infrastructure. With additional casting still to come, the complete creative and performing lineup has not yet been finalized publicly. That leaves room for the production to add more names before cameras begin rolling.
For now, the most concrete details are the cast, the November 30 production start date, the New Jersey filming plans and the detective-driven premise at the center of the movie. Rae joins a project designed around a survivor struggling to understand what happened to him after a violent near-death experience.
As TNA viewers wait for the next chapter in Rae’s suspension angle, Lazarus Syndrome gives her a new project to watch outside of wrestling. More announcements regarding the film’s cast and production are expected in the months ahead, while Rae’s eventual path back into the TNA storyline remains unresolved.
Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.