‘Eddington’ Trailer: Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal Feud Through George Floyd Protests and Machine-Gun Fire in Ari Aster’s COVID Western

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In the debut trailer for Ari Aster’s newest movie, “Eddington,” conspiracy theories surrounding COVID-19 are prevalent. The Western film, starring Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal, transports viewers back to the summer of 2020 marked by political tension. The story follows a mayoral race between a small-town sheriff (portrayed by Phoenix) and his opponent, the incumbent electee (Pascal).

The fresh video material transports viewers to five years ago, featuring scenes of strict six-foot distancing rules, demonstrations ignited by George Floyd’s murder, and internet rumors about false theories. Additionally, it includes intensified elements from action genres such as explosions, gun battles, and a puzzling private corporate jet hovering above the desert.

Besides Austin Butler, Emma Stone, Luke Grimes, Deirdre O’Connell, Micheal Ward, Amélie Hoeferle, Clifton Collins Jr., and William Belleau, the movie’s cast is comprised of. “Eddington” marks Aster’s fourth movie production, following his films “Hereditary” (2018), “Midsommar” (2019) and “Beau Is Afraid” (2023).

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In addition to Austin Butler, Emma Stone, Luke Grimes, Deirdre O’Connell, Micheal Ward, Amélie Hoeferle, Clifton Collins Jr., and William Belleau, the cast for the movie includes. “Eddington” is Aster’s fourth film, after having directed “Hereditary” (2018), “Midsommar” (2019) and “Beau Is Afraid” (2023).

The trailer emerged a few weeks following the debut of “Eddington” at Cannes Film Festival, where it was screened in the main competition section. The film sparked controversy. According to the chief film critic of EbMaster, Owen Gleiberman, it’s an audacious Western thriller that aims to encapsulate the unsettling surrealism of modern America.

At a press conference during the Cannes Film Festival, the cast was questioned about their concerns regarding re-entering the U.S. following the creation of a film with controversial political themes. Pascal responded by saying “Fear is how they gain control” and added “Continue sharing your stories, express yourself freely, and keep standing up for who you are… Disregard those who try to instill fear in you. Fight back! This is an effective method through storytelling. And don’t let them succeed.”

Or, more colloquially:

At Cannes, the cast was grilled about their apprehensions about coming back to America after making a film tackling sensitive political issues. Pascal said “Fear is how they rule” and went on to say “Keep telling your tales, speak your truth, and keep standing up for yourself… Ignore those who try to scare you. Fight back! Expressing your stories is an excellent way to do this. And don’t let them get the upper hand.

“Eddington” releases to theaters on July 18 from A24. Watch the full trailer below.

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2025-06-10 16:17