Former Days of Our Lives star Finley Rose Slater may have left Salem behind, but the young actress is not exactly easing into quiet retirement after playing Rachel Black for five years. Slater just landed a role in Ethan Almighty — Ethan’s Law, an upcoming film inspired by the true story of a rescue dog whose survival helped spark major animal cruelty legislation in Kentucky. Along with joining a cast packed with familiar names, Slater also shared her excitement online, where former castmates and fans immediately showed up to cheer her on.
Key Takeaways
- Finley Rose Slater will play Lilly, one of the emotional centers of Ethan Almighty — Ethan’s Law.
- Director Tané McClure praised Slater’s “emotional clarity and authenticity” in the role.
- Slater celebrated joining the film on Instagram alongside its star-studded cast.
- The film tells the true story behind Kentucky’s animal cruelty legislation known as “Ethan’s Law.”
- Sean Patrick Flanery, Selma Blair, Brandon Routh, and Trevor Donovan round out the cast.
A New Role With a Powerful Story
According to the official press release, Slater will play Lilly, a “creative and quietly courageous” young girl who becomes one of the film’s emotional anchors. Lilly helps organize grassroots efforts supporting Ethan’s recovery while encouraging awareness around animal welfare. Director Tané McClure praised the former DAYS actress, saying, “Finley brings a level of emotional clarity and authenticity that immediately grounds Lilly in truth.” She added that Slater carries both “sensitivity and strength” naturally onscreen.
On Instagram, Slater celebrated the announcement herself, writing, “So excited to share the news that I will be part of the inspiring true story of ETHAN ALMIGHTY — ETHAN’S LAW 🐕.” She also shouted out co-stars Sean Patrick Flanery, Selma Blair, Brandon Routh, Trevor Donovan, and director Tané McClure before teasing, “Get ready to be inspired❤️!!!!” The post featured promotional artwork tied to the film, along with her excitement about joining the project.
Her former TV parents wasted no time jumping into the comments. Eric Martsolf (Brady) posted “🙌🙌🙌,” while Stacy Haiduk (Kristen) added, “Amazing!❤️❤️❤️.” Fans were equally enthusiastic. “Yes!! Can’t wait to watch! 🤩” one follower wrote. Another shared, “That’s amazing, congratulations 🎊 miss you playing Rachel💜.”
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The Real Story Behind Ethan Almighty
The film tells the real-life story of Ethan, a severely abused dog discovered near death in Kentucky back in 2021. Sean Patrick Flanery portrays Jeff Callaway, the man who adopted Ethan during his recovery and later helped push for stronger animal cruelty protections through legislation, eventually known as “Ethan’s Law.”
Selma Blair stars as Claire Patterson, a woman dealing with grief and personal struggles whose life changes through Ethan’s journey, while Brandon Routh plays veteran police officer Greg Carlson. Trevor Donovan (ex-Jeremy, DAYS) also appears in the cast, giving the movie a surprisingly strong soap-adjacent lineup, hidden within what could have simply been another inspirational family drama.
Filming is expected to take place in Bardstown and Frankfort, Kentucky, where parts of the real story unfolded. Meanwhile, Slater keeps building her résumé far beyond Salem with credits that already include Playing With Fire, HBO’s The Idol, and Don’t Turn Out the Lights. Not bad for somebody who spent years terrorizing Brady and Kristen with juice boxes and tiny DiMera-level chaos.
