Amy Leigh McCorkle teams with Santiago Cirilo on mental health drama GO YOUR OWN WAY

Filmmaker Amy Leigh McCorkle and Walking Dead actor Santiago Cirilo are set to produce and star in GO YOUR OWN WAY, a new drama centered on mental illness, recovery and healing. Production details and release timing will be announced in the coming months.

Why it matters: - GO YOUR OWN WAY is built around mental health, recovery and stigma, putting those issues at the center of a feature drama. - The project pairs an established indie filmmaker with a recognizable television actor, which could broaden the film’s reach. - The film’s focus on healing and redemption is meant to resonate with audiences dealing with trauma, emotional pain and family mental health struggles.

What happened: - Healing Hands Entertainment announced the upcoming production of GO YOUR OWN WAY. - Amy Leigh McCorkle will direct the film. - Santiago Cirilo will serve as producer and star in the film. - Cirilo is best known for playing Julio on The Walking Dead. - The cast also includes Rebekah McAuliffe, Myles Jordan and Natalie Hutcherson. - The release did not include a production start date or a premiere date.

The details: - GO YOUR OWN WAY follows Rebekah Gellar as she experiences a mental health breakdown and works through recovery. - Cirilo will play Sam, an orderly whose connection to the patients becomes a key part of the story. - McCorkle is a four-time Telly Award and World Entertainment Award winner. - McCorkle was inducted into the International Indie Filmmakers Hall of Fame in 2024. - McCorkle has directed and produced more than 40 films. - McCorkle has published 36 works and has 13 Amazon bestsellers. - McCorkle has publicly discussed her lifelong bipolar disorder. - McCorkle said, “Stories can save lives.” - McCorkle’s film Letters to Daniel won more than 100 film festival awards and was adapted from her Amazon bestselling book of the same name. - McCorkle hosts the Recovery Unplugged Live Podcast. - Cirilo is a U.S. Army Infantry veteran, actor, producer and motivational speaker. - Cirilo has shared his own recovery from PTSD through acting and creative expression. - The project’s team says the film aims to challenge stigmas around mental illness and recovery. - The film is intended to show that healing is not linear and that people can rebuild after setbacks.

Between the lines: - McCorkle’s body of work shows a long-term effort to turn personal experience into advocacy-driven storytelling. - Cirilo’s involvement reinforces the film’s recovery theme because his public story mirrors the project’s message. - The casting and subject matter suggest the production is targeting audiences that respond to issue-driven independent drama.

What's next: - Production details and release information for GO YOUR OWN WAY will be announced in the coming months. - McCorkle says she will continue making films and books focused on healing, empowerment and recovery. - The team is expected to begin rolling out more information as the project moves forward.

The bottom line: - GO YOUR OWN WAY is positioning itself as a drama with a social mission: tell a recovery story, reduce stigma and connect with viewers who want mental health narratives that feel personal and hopeful.