Daniela Ruah Re-Teams With ‘NCIS: Los Angeles’ Co-Star Natalia Del Riego In Movie ‘… And Then She Was Gone’
EXCLUSIVE: NCIS: Los Angeles star Daniela Ruah is re-teaming with Natalia del Riego, who played her daughter in the long-running CBS hit, in upcoming movie …And Then She Was Gone.
Based on the novel The Moonlight Child by Karen McQuestion, the story follows a former foster child, nineteen-year-old Niki, adjusting to a new way of life in the home of Sharon Lemke. “When they notice a mysterious girl in the house next door, the duo investigate and reveal a haunting truth,” the synopsis reads.
Ruah is also an exec-producer on the Justin Kohlas script, which is produced by Two Independent Eyes. Tawnia McKiernan, whose TV directing includes Criminal Minds, Supergirl, The Cleaning Lady, The Walking Dead, and NCIS, will direct.
…And Then She Was Gone is scheduled for production in fall 2026. Christian Hall is producing for Two Independent Eyes. Kohlas will executive-produce under his KimberMark production banner. Riccardo Maddalosso (Armageddon Time) is also executive-producing.
Coming off a 14-year run on the hit CBS drama NCIS: Los Angeles, Ruah recently starred in Portuguese-language HBO Max mini-series O Grito. She is lining up a growing development slate under her production banner Merkaba Films. Natalia del Riego most recently starred in Netflix series The Abandons. Her 2023 feature Hail Mary debuted at SXSW and was executive-produced by Keanu Reeves.
Kohlas was a writer on NCIS: Los Angeles where he met Ruah. He’s currently developing The Ledge: An Adventure Story of Friendship and Survival On Mount Rainier by Jim Davidson and Kevin Vaughan with Unreasonable Studios and producers Evan Hayes (Free Solo) and MJ Grogan. Kohlas’ most recent film Hide had its world premiere at Screamfest last fall.
“I was immediately drawn to both McQuestion’s book and Justin’s screenplay — he has such a wonderful instinct for keeping us on our toes as the plot unfolds. Having worked together for over a decade, I’m very excited to continue telling great stories with Justin, this time in a new role,” said Ruah.
“I immediately fell in love with this book, and the way Justin has adapted it for the screen feels like a slice of Hitchcockian heaven,” added McKiernan. “When Daniela and Natalia came aboard, both actors I’ve had the pleasure of directing before, I didn’t hesitate. With this creative team in place, I knew I had to be part of it.”
“I am grateful to the readers who made The Moonlight Child such a huge success and I’m excited for the opportunity to see the story evolve as a feature film,” commented McQuestion.
Ruah is repped by Gersh and Entertainment 360. Kohlas is repped by Affirmative Entertainment, Original Artists, and Feig Finkel. Del Riego is repped by Link and Artium Talent. McKiernan is repped by Independent Artists Group.
