“Hamnet”
Six words: Paul Mescal, directed by Chloé Zhao (“The Rider,” “Nomadland”). Paul Mescal, directed by Chloé Zhao!!! Mescal plays none other than William Shakespeare in this upcoming film about the relationship between William and his wife, Agnes, following the death of their son. Jessie Buckley plays Agnes (some historians’ preferred name for Shakespeare’s wife, commonly known as Anne Hathaway) in this fictional historical drama. Based on Maggie O’Farrell’s acclaimed novel of the same name, “Hamnet” tackles parental grief in one of history’s most famous households, and if there’s a team that we think can really take that on, it’s this one. Buckle up for whenever this gets a wide release — it’s sure to take over awards season. —LW
Release Date: Filming wrapped last fall, so keep an eye on Cannes or Venice.
“Hedda”
Though she got her big break in horror by helming Jordan Peele’s “Candyman” reboot, Nia DaCosta’s first feature, “Little Woods,” was a family drama. So she’s returning to form with “Hedda,” her take on Henrik Ibsen’s seminal play Hedda Gabler. DaCosta writes and directs, with “Little Woods” star Tessa Thompsons as the titular lead, an aristocratic woman who feels trapped in her unsatisfying marriage. Imogen Poots (“Baltimore,” “The Father”) and Tom Bateman (“Magpie,” “Based on a True Story”) also star, with DaCosta’s “The Marvels” and “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” cinematographer Sean Bobbitt returning to shape the film’s visuals. Between them and “Joker” composer Hildur Guðnadóttir, who’s already signed on for the score, Amazon/MGM is really throwing their weight behind this one. It’ll probably get a big festival debut before a wide theatrical release. —LW
Release Date: Production started a year ago, so we’ll be watching the festival circuit!
“Holland”
Mimi Cave made waves with her cannibalism-centric feature debut, “Fresh,” at Sundance 2022, and she was tapped to direct “Holland” shortly after. This high-rated 2013 Blacklist screenplay by Andrew Sodorski is a thriller centered on a woman whose husband is living a double life. With Nicole Kidman, Gael García Bernal, Matthew Macfadyen, and Rachel Sennott in the cast, it’s beyond weird that we’ve seen hide nor hair of this film since it wrapped shooting in May 2023. We are Crossing our fingers that Amazon MGM finally lets it out of post-production jail this year. —LW
Release Date: This one has been in the can since 2023, so hopefully this festival season!
“Hot Milk”
Rebecca Lenkiewicz is the writer behind some of the most lauded films about women this century, including “Ida,” “Colette,” and “She Said,” so we’re excited to see her directorial debut this year. “Hot Milk,” based on the novel of the same name by Debora Levy, follows a mother-daughter pair, Sofia (Emma Mackey) and Rose (Fiona Shaw), as they travel in search of a cure for Rose’s paralysis. The pair’s relationship becomes strained when Sofia falls under the thrall of Ingrid (Vicky Krieps). Mackey replaced Jessie Buckley, who was initially supposed to lead the film, and while we love Buckley, it’ll be great to see Mackey, who rose to prominence as Maeve in Netflix’s “Sex Education,” in a role she can really sink her teeth into. —LW
Release Date: Slated to debut at Berlinale.
“The Ice Tower”
Suppose you’ve seen her recent films “Earwig” and “Evolution,” you know that nobody out there is making movies like Lucile Hadžihalilović. So it’s fabulous that we’re getting her fourth feature, “The Ice Tower,” this year. This metadrama takes place on the 1970s film set of an adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Snow Queen,” where the lead actress beguiles a teenage runaway. Marion Cotillard reunites with Hadžihalilović to play lead Cristina, and director and frequent Hadžihalilović collaborator Gaspar Noé is also in the cast. In his laudatory review of Hadžihalilović’s latest film, our own Jason Bailey wrote, “Movies like ‘Earwig’ defy criticism or even explanation.” Hear, hear. I can’t wait for another gorgeous head-scratcher. —LW
Release Date: Slated to debut at Berlinale.
“If I Had Legs, I’d Kick You”
Indie director Mary Bronstein, best known for her mumblecore first feature “Yeast,” comes to Sundance this year with “If I Had Legs I Kick You,” a Rose Byrne-led comedy that’s already been snatched up for distribution by A24. Conan O’Brien and ASAP Rocky — two names you’ve probably never seen side by side until now — also star in this film about an exhausted mother struggling to balance several antagonistic relationships in her life. It’s great to see Bronstein behind the camera again after 17 years, and this looks like a true original. We’ll be seated. —LW
Release Date: January 24 at Sundance, then onto Berlin.
“It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley”
Sundance alum Amy Berg returns to the festival this year with her latest documentary, “It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley,” about the life and death of the renowned musician. Buckley died suddenly at 30 years old with just one album to his name. Berg’s documentary seeks to illuminate his brief and vivid life through interviews, exclusive voice messages, and never-before-seen footage. Berg was most recently at Sundance in 2022 with “Phoenix Rising,” her two-part depiction of Evan Rachel Wood’s quest for justice following her allegedly abusive relationship with Marilyn Manson. “It’s Never Over” will be Berg’s second music documentary, after 2015’s “Janis: Little Girl Blue.” —LW.
Release Date: January 24 at Sundance
“The Last Showgirl”
Gia Coppola is the only movie on this list currently in theaters! Her third feature, “The Last Showgirl,” is currently tearing up awards season, with lots of accolades and nominations going to lead Pamela Anderson and Jamie Lee Curtis. Anderson plays Shelly, a showgirl struggling to figure out her next move when the revue she’s performed in for decades gets the ax. Curtis is Annette, Shelly’s best friend and a former showgirl. In his review, our own Gregory Ellwood called the film “something special,” and it’s clear that audiences and critics agree. —LW
Release Date: Currently in wide release!
“The Librarians”
Sundance is a hotbed of talented female documentarians, and Kim A. Snyder is no exception. The “Death by Numbers” director will premiere her latest film, “The Librarians,” at this year’s festival. While Snyder’s last three projects — “Death by Numbers,” “Us Kids,” and “Lessons from a School Shooting” — have all focused on school shootings, “The Librarians” introduces book bans as her latest cause. My only issue with this movie’s official Sundance page is its description of librarians as “unlikely defenders fighting for intellectual freedom.” Unlikely, how? That’s the whole point of libraries, baby — and precisely why I’m so stoked to watch a documentary about librarians. —LW
Release Date: January 24 at Sundance.
“Love, Brooklyn”
First-time feature director Rachael Abigail Holder lands a pretty damn impressive cast for her debut, so you know the script has gotta be great. André Holland, Nicole Beharie, and DeWanda Wise star as three longtime Brooklynites who navigate careers, love, loss, and friendship against the rapidly changing landscape of their beloved city. Roy Wood Jr., Cassandra Freeman, and Cadence Reese co-star. — Rodrigo Perez
Release Date: January 27 at Sundance.
