Inde Navarrette to star in Apple's sci-fi

Actor Inde Navarrette has booked the lead role in the upcoming sci-fi thriller The Waffle House Index for Apple. Navarrette will also serve as an executive producer on the project.

Navarrette's career is on a sharp upward trajectory following her performance in the 2026 horror hit Obsession. She is also set to play Rogue in Marvel's rebooted X-Men franchise. The new film is based on a script by Andrew Nunnelly that featured on the 2025 Black List, an annual survey of well-regarded unproduced screenplays. Production company Plan B Entertainment initially acquired the project before it was picked up by Apple.

The Premise of the Film

The film's unusual title refers to an informal metric used to gauge the severity of a hurricane, where fewer open Waffle House locations indicate a worse storm. The story centers on a diner waitress named Jane who endures an extraordinarily bad night. Her ordeal begins with personal grief over a lost loved one.

The situation escalates dramatically when a man bursts into the restaurant screaming about the apocalypse. A nuclear explosion is then seen in the distance, followed by attacks from crocodiles. These bizarre events are only the beginning of the script's strange occurrences.

The Creative Team

The Waffle House Index will be directed by Scottish filmmaker Louis Paxton. Paxton's most recent film, the fantasy drama The Incomer starring Domhnall Gleeson, is receiving a limited release in UK cinemas. The tone of his new project has been compared to films like The Ballad Of Wallis Island and The Wicker Man.

Apple's film division, which has released titles ranging from award-winners like CODA and Killers Of The Flower Moon to the critical disappointment Argylle, is now backing this offbeat thriller. The combination of a hot Blacklist script and the rising star power of Navarrette proved an attractive package for the tech giant.

A Rising Star's Schedule

While rumors of her involvement in a potential Heat 2 sequel appear unfounded, Navarrette's schedule is firmly booked. Her breakout role in Obsession has made her a sought-after talent in Hollywood. The report from Film Stories notes that the specifics of her role in The Waffle House Index are presumed to be the lead, though official confirmation on that detail is still pending. Further news on the film's development and release plans is expected as production moves forward.