- The trailer has dropped today
- It stars Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal
- The film is out in July
We’re just a few months away from the release of Ari Aster’s new film Eddington, and more details are starting to emerge.
The modern-day comedy western stars Joaquin Phoenix, who Aster worked with on 2023’s Beau Is Afraid, as well as Pedro Pascal and Emma Stone.
It is Aster’s fourth feature, following the aforementioned Beau Is Afraid, Hereditary and Midsomar.
Read more: Eddington: Everything We Know About New Ari Aster Film
Eddington is named after the city in New Mexico where the action takes place. However, the setting that’s really capturing people’s attention is not the place, but the time.
Is the pandemic a part of Eddington?
Yes – the film is set during May 2020, just a few months into the COVID-19 pandemic. It was always going to be inevitable for film to eventually address the pandemic despite the collective amnesia towards it, and Aster is taking the bold step of doing so just five years later.
The film revolves around sheriff Joe Cross (Joaquin Phoenix) and mayor Ted Garcia (Pedro Pascal) becoming locked in conflict. This takes place against a tense backdrop, with Covid-19 continuing to spread and protests erupting across the city after a murder. Things escalate after Cross assaults a protester and goes on television to insist that he was in the right.
Furthermore, the trailer opens with a news report about the lab in Wuhan that the virus was rumoured to have originated from. There is also mention of other conspiracy theories.
Read more: Death of A Unicorn: All we know about the A24 film
It also reveals that Cross’s wife Louise (Emma Stone) is denouncing his actions and the citizens are prepared to riot to get him out of office. In addition, Austin Butler and Yellowstone’s Luke Grimes are also on board.
That said, it remains to be seen just to what extent the spread of COVID-19 will impact the story.
When is it out?
Eddington arrives in cinemas on 18 July. Before that, it will premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, which takes place 13-24 May. It will compete for the prestigious Palme d’Or.
