Lubbock-Raised Filmmaker Brings Matter of Time to Theaters Nationwide This Weekend — Sean Astin Joins Cast

Jeremy Snead, a filmmaker who grew up in Lubbock, opens his first narrative feature Matter of Time in theaters nationwide this weekend. The sci-fi drama, shot in the Dallas area, features Sean Astin and is playing at Premiere Cinemas in Lubbock, marking a homecoming for Snead.

Sean Astin's involvement and the film's central hook

Matter of Time follows a video game designer who acquires a powerful ring that can control time. The production includes Sean Astin in the cast; Astin is a longtime friend of director Jeremy Snead. The actor’s prior notable role also centered on a powerful ring, a connection that factored into discussions during the film’s development. Snead identified Astin’s approval of the script as a key hurdle to clear before moving forward with the casting.

From Lubbock roots to a nationwide opening

Snead was born in Levelland and raised in Lubbock, so the nationwide opening has personal significance. He has previously directed documentaries about video games before making Matter of Time as his first narrative feature, and he described the theatrical opening in his hometown as a full-circle moment. He said he hopes families will attend the opening weekend to experience the film with an audience and is eager to learn what viewers think.

Production details, influences, and what to expect

The movie was filmed in the Dallas area and blends elements of video games and science fiction around its time-manipulation premise. Snead pointed to early inspirations that ignited his interest in filmmaking, recalling documentary-style behind-the-scenes material that shaped his approach to storytelling. He moved from creating documentaries about games into a narrative that directly engages with gaming culture through its protagonist and plot device.

Matter of Time’s plot centers on the moral and narrative implications of controlling time a single artifact, a premise that has thematic echoes with prior ring-centered stories. During script development, one of the questions raised by Sean Astin was whether the central device needed to be a ring, a creative question that influenced conversations between the actor and the director.