Alec Baldwin, Taylor Schilling, Jena Malone and musician Che “Rhymefest” Smith have signed on to co-star in the Emilio Estevez-directed socially conscious ensemble dramedy the public. Currently in preproduction, the film is set to begin principal photography in mid-January on location in Cincinnati. Written by and co-starring Estevez, the public centers around a standoff with police and library officials during a brutal, life-threatening cold snap.