Ethan Coen’s debut feature picture as a filmmaker will star Margaret Qualley and Geraldine Viswanathan, according to a Deadline exclusive. This fall is likely to mark the start of principal photography on the forthcoming film. Neither Qualley nor Viswanathan’s roles in the film have been made public because the story is still under wraps. As filming gets underway, more information about the movie should become available. Coen and his wife Tricia Cooke, who has worked with the filmmaker before on films including “O Brother, Where Art Thou? “, wrote the screenplay. Coen, who has previously directed films with his brother Joel, will make his directorial debut with this next production.
Joel had already directed numerous films written by Ethan, including Barton Fink and Fargo, and the two would go on to co-write and co-direct other highly acclaimed films, including No Country for Old Men, True Grit, and Inside Llewyn Davis. However, the brothers eventually went their separate ways in the film industry, with Joel directing and scripting 2021’s critically acclaimed The Tragedy of Macbeth without any input from his sibling. It will be exciting to see how much of a departure Ethan’s next solo feature picture makes from the pair’s past work. Qualley’s performance as Alex in the Netflix limited series Maid earned her a nomination for Primetime Emmy’s Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie.
She also recently starred in Stars at Noon, directed by Claire Denis. Other future films that she is scheduled to star in include Sanctuary, which is set to premiere at this year’s Toronto Film Festival, and Poor Things, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos. Viswanathan earlier acted in the comedy picture Blockers starring John Cena which was positively acclaimed. Rumble, an animated movie that premiered on Paramount+ in 2017, included her voice acting. With Elizabeth Banks and Zach Galifianakis, she’s set to star in The Beanie Bubble, a film about the ’90s Beanie Baby mania.
She also has a role in Susanna Fogel’s forthcoming psychological thriller Cat Person. The forthcoming film might be interesting for fans of the famed director to watch out for since both stars are rumoured to co-star in Coen’s cryptic new project. The untitled picture is currently in the early phases of development, so there is no specific release date.