Remember banana bread? Dalgona coffee? Tiger King? Horror master Ari Aster is about to make them sinister—well, more sinister than they already were as coping mechanisms for a deadly global pandemic with no apparent end in sight. Yep, whether you’re ready to return to that particular time or not, Ari Aster is doing a COVID movie.
While the specifics of Eddington‘s plot remain obscure, the film is clearly going for some good ol’ finger-point, “remember that?”-type moments. Today’s short teaser references Wuhan, the lab leak hypothesis, Tom Hanks’ diagnosis, #ACAB, sex trafficking conspiracies, and, of course, “unprecedented times.” All of this is shown on Joaquin Phoenix’s phone as he mindlessly scrolls alone in his house, for that little added layer of authenticity. All he needs is a second screen to play Animal Crossing.
Here’s what we do know about the plot so far: “In May of 2020, a standoff between a small-town sheriff (Joaquin Phoenix) and mayor (Pedro Pascal) sparks a powder keg as neighbor is pitted against neighbor in Eddington, New Mexico.” Some other major players in this conflict include Austin Butler, who we see in the teaser as some kind of manic cult leader, and Emma Stone, whose character posts on Instagram apologizing on behalf of some wrongdoing by her husband. Additional cast members include Luke Grimes, Deirdre O’Connell, Micheal Ward, Clifton Collins Jr., William Belleau, Cameron Mann, Matt Gomez Hidaka, and Amélie Hoeferle.
Eddington will have its premiere in competition at Cannes this spring, before it spreads like a virus (sorry) to the rest of the nation on July 18. Just remember to bring your hand sanitizer to the theater with you and choose seats six feet apart.
