Robert Downey Jr.’s son Indio scores his first lead in Love in Vein

In Love in Vein, Indio Downey plays Damien, a Los Angeles musician spiraling through addiction, messy relationships and the city’s underground nightlife. The indie feature is written and directed by Will De Los Santos and adapts the late Ryan Leone’s novel Wasting Talent — a story De Los Santos says he plans to keep as raw on screen as it reads on the page.

Who’s making it

The film comes from Muse Productions in association with ArtHouse Gooning. Producer Chris Hanley — whose credits include American Psycho — is joined by Orson Oblowitz, Tricia van Klaveren and Ben D. Wallace. Hanley previously worked with Robert Downey Jr. on Two Girls and a Guy, and he’s backing Indio in a role that leans hard into vulnerability.

“Indio brings exactly the vulnerability and authenticity this role needs,” Hanley said, per Deadline.

De Los Santos co-wrote and produced the cult meth odyssey Spun, and here he’s steering another unvarnished look at addiction — this time through a love story set against the rough edges of L.A. nightlife.

Indio’s path to the role

Downey isn’t brand-new to sets: he popped up in 2005’s Kiss Kiss Bang Bang as the younger version of his father’s character, Harry Lockhart. He’s spent most of the years since focused on music, fronting bands including The Dose and Indio Ink, and contributing the song “Gone” to Sr., the 2022 documentary about Robert Downey Sr.

More recently, he added another on-screen credit with Outcome, the 2026 film starring Keanu Reeves, before stepping into his first feature lead here.

• Writer-director — Will De Los Santos
• Based on — Ryan Leone’s novel Wasting Talent
• Producers — Chris Hanley, Orson Oblowitz, Tricia van Klaveren, Ben D. Wallace
• Companies — Muse Productions; ArtHouse Gooning

Principal photography is set for Los Angeles in March and April 2027 , with additional casting underway.