Pedro Pascal and Joaquin Phoenix clash in A24's new 'Eddington' trailer — and it's already on my must-watch list
And if its divisive premiere at the Cannes Film Festival is any indication, it's bound to spark heated discourse when "Eddington" hits theaters on July 18.
I'm a huge fan of Ari Aster's films, but his last one, "Beau is Afraid," was such a convoluted dud that I've been holding off on getting my hopes up for "Eddington." But this new trailer is chilling in all the right ways, and it just catapulted "Eddington" to the top of my must-watch list.
The trailer showed Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal facing off in a fictional small town that becomes a lightning rod for systemic issues in America. When anti-mask local sheriff Joe (Phoenix) decides to take a stand against COVID-19 safety precautions, it puts him in conflict with Pascal's incumbent mayor, Ted Garcia. The clash sets the community on edge until simmering tensions finally explode, turning neighbors against each other.
You can check out the full trailer below:
A haunting cover of "Home on the Range" in the trailer hammers home the themes of misplaced patriotism, fear-mongering, and paranoia. You know the other (cowboy) boot is about to drop, but wondering how the powder keg will spark is what lures you in.
It also helps that "Eddington's" cast is stacked with Hollywood A-listers. In addition to "The Last of Us" star Pedro Pascal, the cast also includes Emma Stone as Joe's religious wife and Austin Butler as a social media figure a la Alex Jones. Deirdre O'Connell, Micheal Ward, Clifton Collins Jr., and "Yellowstone" star Luke Grimes round up the rest of the ensemble.
Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.
This new trailer is the first real glimpse we've gotten of Aster's upcoming film yet. A minute-long teaser trailer went live in April, but it only showed Phoenix's character scrolling through an explosive social media feed.
Based on the trailer and early reviews, "Eddington" is shaping up to be the horror director's most divisive film yet. Its focus on hot-button issues — the polarizing effects of social media, pandemic paranoia, and how American identity has twisted into something unrecognizable — is all but guaranteed to spark capital "D" discourse from audiences on all sides.
It remains to be seen whether "Eddington" will connect with audiences. While "Midsommar" and "Hereditary" were female-led horror stories about grief that achieved critical and commercial success, "Beau is Afraid" marked a major departure from his breakout horror movies. One that many, including myself, would argue is for the worse.
Phoenix's surreal odyssey to confront his anxiety and family trauma ultimately fell flat with critics and viewers alike, with the critics consensus on Rotten Tomatoes describing it as "overstuffed to the point of erasing the line between self-flagellation and self-indulgence."
While Phoenix's Sheriff Cross is an entirely different type of character, it does seem that Aster's latest collaboration with the star will take on a more comedic tone in line with "Beau is Afraid." That alone has me holding off on trying to convince friends to see it with me in theaters (watching "Beau is Afraid's" climax together is something I'll never live down), but the trailer is intriguing enough to convince me to scope it out on my own first.
I'm cautiously optimistic to see how Aster's idiosyncratic style and surrealism will square with satire on real-life issues. It will be interesting to see whether this new mix of themes and genres successfully comes together in the end.
"Eddington" hits theaters on July 18.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
After a bout with COVID, Josh Gad says he'll perform Sunday in 'Jesus Christ Superstar'
It felt like 2022 all over again when Josh Gad took to Instagram to express his heartbreak about contracting a "virus known as COVID" and announce his decision to pull out of playing King Herod in the highly anticipated production of "Jesus Christ Superstar" at the Hollywood Bowl, which staged its first night of a three-night run Friday. Gad hinted that maybe — if he tested negative — the situation might change. The following day, however, John Stamos announced on social media that his weekend "just got biblical" and that he was stepping in for Gad in the show. On Friday, things got extra dramatic when Gad said that he had tested negative. Fans on his social media clamored to know what that might mean, but he stayed mum until Saturday when he posted a photo of himself in an elaborate gold lamé costume with the words, "See you all Sunday night." A rep for the Los Angeles Philharmonic said that final confirmation that Gad will step onto stage won't come until noon Sunday. Stamos appeared onstage as Herod on Friday night, bringing some comic relief to an electric, deeply emotional show. After one of star Cynthia Erivo's solos, the audience clapped so loud, long and reverently, that tears came to the singer's eyes — which only caused the crowd to cheer harder. The moment of symbiotic love lasted for at least 3 minutes, maybe more. The Bowl was packed with marquee names, including former Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, Jim Carrey and Ted Neely (who played Jesus in the 1973 film adaptation of the musical). Erivo brought composer Andrew Lloyd Webber onto the stage as a special guest during curtain call. Still, Gad fans were many — you could tell because they held Olaf dolls and wore Olaf jewelry — and they could be heard expressing their sorrow at the absence of Gad in the crush of the crowd after the show. Gad's addition to the cast, which included Erivo as Jesus, Adam Lambert as Judas and Phillipa Soo as Mary Magdalene, was hailed by fans; and in an interview with The Times during rehearsal, Gad spoke about being beyond excited to perform at the Bowl for the very first time with a stellar cast that he called the Avengers of musical theater. "I've wanted to play the Hollywood Bowl forever," said Gad. "But I never thought I was good enough to play the Hollywood Bowl," he added with a self-deprecating smile Even though the role of King Herod entails a single song — a kind of comic interlude that Gad likened to the part of King George in "Hamilton" — Gad showed up at as many rehearsals as possible before he came down with COVID. He just liked sitting on the sidelines, soaking up the scene and the incredible talent on display, he said. At a Saturday rehearsal before the show, he filmed numbers on phones for various cast members and cheered his heart out. His sense of excitement was palpable. Now he'll get one night to give "King Herod's Song" his all. Get notified when the biggest stories in Hollywood, culture and entertainment go live. Sign up for L.A. Times entertainment alerts. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Solve the daily Crossword
Los Angeles Times
an hour ago
- Los Angeles Times
After a bout with COVID, Josh Gad, says he'll perform Sunday in ‘Jesus Christ Superstar'
It felt like 2022 all over again, when Josh Gad took to Instagram to express his heartbreak about contracting a 'virus known as COVID,' and his decision to pull out of playing King Herod in the highly anticipated production of 'Jesus Christ Superstar' at the Hollywood Bowl, which staged its first night of a three-night run, Friday. Gad hinted that maybe — if he tested negative — the situation might change. The following day, however, John Stamos announced on social media that his weekend 'just got biblical' and that he was stepping in for Gad in the show. On Friday, things got extra dramatic when Gad announced that he had tested negative. Fans on his social media clamored to know what that might mean, but he stayed mum until Saturday when he posted a photo of himself in an elaborate gold lame costume with the words, 'See you all Sunday night.' A rep for the Los Angeles Philharmonic said that final confirmation that Gad will step onto stage won't come until noon, Sunday. Stamos appeared onstage as Herod on Friday night, bringing some comic relief to an electric, deeply emotional show. After one of star Cynthia Erivo's solos, the audience clapped so loud, long and reverently, that tears came to the singer's eyes — which only caused the crowd to cheer harder. The moment of symbiotic love lasted for at least 3 minutes, maybe more. The Bowl was packed with marquee names, including former Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, Jim Carrey and Ted Neely (who played Jesus in the 1973 film adaptation of the musical). Erivo brought composer Andrew Lloyd Webber onto the stage as a special guest during curtain call. Still, Gad fans were many — you could tell because they held Olaf dolls and wore Olaf jewelry — and they could be heard expressing their sorrow at the absence of Gad in the crush of the crowd after the show. Gad's addition to the cast, which included Cynthia Erivo as Jesus, Adam Lambert as Judas and Phillipa Soo as Mary Magdalene, was hailed by fans; and in an interview with The Times during rehearsal, Gad spoke about being beyond excited to perform at the Bowl for the very first time with a stellar cast that he called The Avengers of musical theater. 'I've wanted to play the Hollywood Bowl forever,' said Gad. 'But I never thought I was good enough to play the Hollywood Bowl,' he added with a self-deprecating smile Even though the role of King Herod entails a single song — a kind of comic interlude that Gad likened to the part of King George in 'Hamilton' — Gad showed up at as many rehearsals as possible before he came down with COVID. He just liked sitting on the sidelines soaking up the scene and the incredible talent on display, he said. At a Saturday rehearsal before the show, he filmed numbers on phones for various cast members and cheered his heart out. His sense of excitement was infectious. Now he'll get one night to give 'King Herod's Song' his all.
Business Upturn
7 hours ago
- Business Upturn
Heartland Season 19: When will the new season release? Everything we know so far
If you've been following Heartland from the very beginning—or even just hopped on somewhere along the way—you know how easy it is to get swept up in the show's mix of ranch life, emotional healing, and small-town heart. Now that Season 18 has wrapped up in Canada, fans are already wondering: When's Season 19 coming, and what's in store next? Let's dig into what we know (and what we can guess) about the future of Heartland . When Will Heartland Season 19 Release? There's no official release date yet, but if the past is anything to go by, we've got a decent idea of what to expect. The show usually films during Alberta's warmer months, and Season 19 reportedly began filming in May 2025. That puts it on track for a late 2025 or early 2026 premiere on CBC in Canada—likely sometime in the fall, like previous seasons. For U.S. fans, the release tends to come a little later. Season 18 didn't hit UP Faith & Family until April 2025, so if Season 19 sticks to that same delay, we're probably looking at spring or summer 2026 in the States. As for Netflix? Well… that one's a little murkier. Netflix Canada usually gets new seasons long after CBC's run ends, and outside regions like the UK or Australia might not see Season 19 until mid-to-late 2026. Even worse, Heartland Seasons 1–16 are set to leave Netflix U.S. on August 1, 2025, and it's unclear if 17 or 18 will even make it onto the platform. If you're a Netflix viewer, it might be time to look into CBC Gem or UP Faith & Family instead. Who's Returning for Heartland Season 19? While CBC hasn't dropped a confirmed cast list for Season 19, it's pretty safe to assume that most of the core crew will be back. This show is all about family, after all—both on-screen and off. You can expect to see: Amber Marshall as Amy Fleming-Borden, still healing hearts (both human and horse). Michelle Morgan as Lou, balancing being a mayor, mom, and sister like a boss. Shaun Johnston as Jack, the gruff-but-loving grandpa who holds the ranch together. Chris Potter as Tim, Amy and Lou's dad—still Tim'ing around. Spencer Lord as Nathan Pryce Jr., Amy's maybe-sorta future flame? Ruby and Emmanuella Spencer as little Lyndy, Amy's adorable and increasingly horse-savvy daughter. Baye McPherson as Katie, Lou's teen daughter, with big things ahead. Drew Davis as Logan, the young ranch hand who's become part of the family. Supporting characters like Lisa, Peter, Jessica, Rick, and even Georgie (yes, we're hoping for a Georgie Olympic storyline again!) might also pop in, depending on how the storylines shape up. Nothing's confirmed yet, but Amber Marshall's frequent social media posts about how much she loves working on the show are always a good sign. What Will Heartland Season 19 Be About? Season 18 left us with plenty to chew on. A major drought hit the ranch, there was growing pressure from Pryce Beef across the fence, and the family had to dig deep to keep everything from falling apart. So, what's next? Here's what we might see: Amy's next chapter: After opening her heart a little to Nathan Pryce Jr., could romance finally be back on the table? Or will her focus stay on her horses and clients, maybe even mentoring Lyndy more seriously? Fans love watching her grow through challenges, and Season 19 will likely continue that path. Lou's juggling act: Between being Hudson's mayor and raising Katie, Lou's always multitasking. A new job offer? Political controversy? A personal shake-up? All very possible. Jack's legacy: Jack's not going anywhere (we hope), but the ranch's future may rest on how he adapts to change—and lets the younger generation take the reins, literally and figuratively. The next generation: Katie and Georgie are both at interesting crossroads. Georgie's Olympic ambitions have been teased for a while now, and Katie's finally stepping into her own. Season 19 could start laying the groundwork for what's next for them—romances, ambitions, maybe even some tension? New faces, new stories: Heartland always finds a way to introduce new characters—both human and horse—that shake things up. Whether it's a troubled teen in need of a second chance or a wild horse that won't be tamed, there's bound to be something new to keep fans hooked. Ahmedabad Plane Crash
