In addition to showcasing Daniel Craig’s dialectical range, Rian Johnson’s “Knives Out” proved that the lone detective whodunit is still alive and kicking. It grossed over $300 million at the box-office (on a budget of $40 million), and its critical reception was nothing short of adoring (read ThePlaylist’s A-grade review here). (It also picked up an Original Screenplay nomination at the 92nd Academy Awards.) Since then, other sharp-witted private eyes have taken to the screen—from the time-honored mustache in “Death On the Nile” to the less conventional Eloise in “Last Night In Soho”—with equally warm receptions. Next to join the Marples and Marlowes are Sam Rockwell and Saoirse Ronan, who will throw their deerstalkers into the ring later this year as the co-leads of Tom George’s new 1950s murder mystery “See How They Run.”
After a movie crew member working on an adaptation of a smash-hit play is murdered, world-weary Inspector Stoppard (Rockwell) and eager rookie Constable Stalker (Ronan) are sent to investigate. It soon becomes hard for the pair to separate fact from fiction and loyalties from double-crosses, and as the knotty case unravels, they’re led further into the dark side of London’s West End.
Like “Knives Out,” the ensemble cast is packed with A-list stars: Adrien Brody (“The Pianist”; “The French Dispatch”), David Oyelowo (“Selma”), Harris Dickinson (“Beach Rats“), and a thicket of BAFTA winners including Ruth Wilson (“His Dark Materials”), Reece Shearsmith (“High-Rise”), Sian Clifford (“Good Grief”), Shirley Henderson (“Stan and Ollie”) and Charlie Cooper (“This Country”).
Earlier this month, Searchlight heads of film production Katie Goodson-Thomas and DanTram Nguyen released this statement about the cast and crew: “We have been enamored with Tom George and his work with the BBC for years. His knack for bringing stellar performances from an ensemble cast across multiple genres made him the perfect choice to lead the talented team of ‘See How They Run.’ We are pleased to welcome several members of the Searchlight family back to the fold like Saoirse, Sam, Adrien and David for this entertaining whodunit.”
Commenting on what will be his feature debut, George said “I’m so excited to bring this thrilling, smart, funny murder mystery to audiences. Doing so with the company behind such brilliant ensemble films as ‘Jojo Rabbit,’ ‘Birdman’ and ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’ has really been the perfect fit.” If “See How They Run” is anywhere near as quirky and fun as those three thriller-comedies, we may be in for another “Knives Out” phenomenon.
“See How They Run” opens in theaters in September which mean its a good bet it will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, or some other similar festival, earlier that month. Watch the new trailer below.