Award-Winning Drama ‘The Addiction Of Hope’ Starring Anne-Marie Johnson Arrives On Streaming Platforms April 7
Award-winning drama The Addiction of Hope, released by Random Media and Doilyboy Productions, arrives on major streaming VOD platforms worldwide beginning April 7, 2026.
Anchored by a defining lead performance from Anne-Marie Johnson (In the Heat of the Night, In Living Color) and supported by a celebrated ensemble cast, the film tells the story of an aging actress forced to confront her past, her family, and the difficult truths that come with change. As she reckons with a life shaped by ambition, identity, and the pursuit of relevance, she is ultimately faced with a choice between holding on to what was and embracing what still might be.
Johnson stars as Jo Stock, an actress confronting the reality of a life shaped by past success and the choices that come with it. She is joined by an accomplished ensemble including Erika Alexander (Get Out, American Fiction), Shari Belafonte (The Morning Show), Clancy Brown (The Shawshank Redemption, Dexter: New Blood), Harley Jane Kozak (Parenthood), and Alan Rosenberg (L.A. Law). Shaped by Martin A. Gottlieb’s direction, the cast works in concert to complete the film’s emotional arc, grounding its themes in performances that reflect its quiet poignancy.
In a role that demands both restraint and intensity, Johnson delivers a performance grounded in lived experience, setting the tone for a film that is driven not by spectacle, but by character and performance.
“If we’re fortunate enough, aging is something we all face,” said Johnson, who is also one of the producers of the film. “At a certain point, we all should take an honest look at our lives — what matters, what doesn’t, and what you’re still holding onto. Are the things you felt were so important when you were younger still relevant as you get older? Can you create your own sense of hope?”
Written, directed, and produced by Martin A. Gottlieb (Bones, The X-Files), the film has already earned notable recognition on the festival circuit, including Grand Jury Awards for Best Feature Film at both the Santa Fe Film Festival and Tryon International Film Festival, Best Original Screenplay at the Richmond International Film Festival, and a Best Actress win for Anne-Marie Johnson at the Culver City Film Festival.
In advance of its streaming debut, The Addiction of Hope has built momentum through a series of grassroots, filmmaker-led screenings and Q&A events across the country. Following its award-winning festival run and limited theatrical release, the film has generated early audience engagement and strong word-of-mouth in key markets.
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FULL SYNOPSIS
Joanne Stock is fighting the hope that past glory holds. She’s ignoring the hard truth that at her age, her career might be over. But hope can be addictive. It can lift us up and push us forward. Or, if false hope, it can hold us back and push us down.
Despite the truth before her, Joanne seems blind to what may be the obvious best choices in her life. She continues to put one foot in front of the other, hoping not to step in a hole. Joanne only begins to consider change when forced to visit her ailing sister, Lynnie, who has her own relationship with hope.
Despite a less-than-perfect sibling connection, both women must lean on each other to make tough decisions rooted in truth. Whether it’s career, family, health, or age, they are forced to stand at a crossroads and choose a path, hoping it’s the right one.
For anyone who has stood at that point in life, The Addiction of Hope is a story of resilience, reinvention, and discovery — a reminder that it is never too late to change.
Credits
Writer/Director
Martin A. Gottlieb
Producers
Martin A. Gottlieb
Anne-Marie Johnson
David Marroquin
Starring
Anne-Marie Johnson as Joanne Stock
Harley Jane Kozak as Lynnie Turner
Alan Rosenberg as Roger
Clancy Brown as Riz
Shari Belafonte as Charisse
Erika Alexander as Vanessa
Matthew Moy as Kevin