Exciting Film Developments Unfold at Lincoln Center’s Scary Movies Festival

NEW YORK, Aug. 19, 2019 — The Scary Movies festival at Film at Lincoln Center kicked off its 12th edition Saturday with the premiere of Ari Aster’s extended version of “Midsommar.” The audience was treated to a longer cut of the film, which explores the emotional and psychological journeys of its characters against a backdrop of stark horror.

In the realm of upcoming films, James Gray’s “Paper Tiger,” starring Adam Driver, Jeremy Strong, and Anne Hathaway, is slated to start production in New Jersey this April. The domestic crime drama follows two brothers chasing the American Dream, only to find themselves ensnared in dangerous corruption linked to the Russian mafia. This film marks a reunion for Gray with actors Strong and Hathaway, following their collaboration in “Armageddon Time.” “This will be Driver’s first project with Gray, further enhancing his already impressive resume,” a source close to the project noted.

Meanwhile, renowned director Damien Chazelle is anticipated to cast Adrien Brody in “Evel Knievel on Tour,” which is reportedly set to feature Leonardo DiCaprio in the lead role. Brody’s involvement hinges on whether DiCaprio finalizes his deal. The film, which has been discussed for some time between Chazelle and DiCaprio, will delve into Knievel’s notorious career, focusing on an incident where he assaulted promoter Shelly Saltman. This grim chapter of Knievel’s life resulted in serious injuries for Saltman, who underwent surgery to repair damage from the attack, and ultimately saw Knievel serve six months in prison.

Additionally, the much-anticipated Marvel project “Thunderbolts” is ramping up for a summer 2025 release. Florence Pugh, returning as Yelena Belova, has hinted that the film embodies a mix of indie film aesthetics with a superhero twist. “We aimed to create a badass indie feeling with an emotional darkness that’s still comedic,” she stated. The film will showcase a team of anti-heroes working for the U.S. government and includes a star-studded cast featuring Sebastian Stan, Harrison Ford, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

Despite previous recasting and production challenges, including the exits of actors Ayo Edebiri and Steven Yeun due to scheduling conflicts, the project has continued to evolve with new writing contributions from Lee Sung Jin and Joanna Calo, who join Eric Pearson on the script. “Thunderbolts” is scheduled to premiere in theaters on May 2, 2025.