While audiences wait for the arrival of “Poor Things” in theaters next Friday, don’t forget that Yorgos Lanthimos already has his next movie in post-production. And IndieWire reports that it has a new title, too. “AND” is now “Kinds Of Kindness,” and its name change likely means Searchlight Pictures will have it ready for the festival circuit next year.
“Kinds Of Kindness” marks the fourth time Lanthimos and Emma Stone work together after “Poor Things,” “The Favourite,” and the 2022 short “Bleat.” But Stone isn’t the only one having a reunion with the Greek director on his upcoming film. Stone’s “Poor Things” co-stars Margaret Qualley and Willem Dafoe are in “Kinds Of Kindess,” too, as is Joe Alwyn, who was in “The Favourite.” Other cast members for Lanthimos’ next picture include Jesse Plemons, Hong Chau, and Hunter Schafer, aka: Jules from HBO‘s “Euphoria.”
Lanthimos shot “Kinds Of Kindness” last Fall in New Orleans, directing a script he co-wrote with his longtime collaborator Efthimis Filippou. Film4 and Element Pictures developed the screenplay, with Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe producing through Element with Kasia Malipan and Lanthimos. Ollie Madden and Daniel Battsek co-executive produce through Film4.
But even though “Kinds Of Kindness” shot last year, plot details for the film remain under wraps. And a press statement from Searchlight co-presidents David Greenbaum and Matthew Greenfield leaves little to glean there. “Working with Yorgos continues to be a highlight for us at Searchlight, and this is yet another truly original project that sets his work apart,” the pair said in their joint statement. “Working again with Emma, Willem, Jesse, and Margaret as well as Element and Film4 is just the icing on the cake.”
Meanwhile, co-producers Guiney and Lowe had their own press statement before filming began: “This is our fifth film with Yorgos and we are delighted to reunite once again with Searchlight and Film4 on this brilliant script by Yorgos and Efthimis. Yorgos has drawn an incredible cast and crew and we are dying to get started.”
Based on its new title, “Kinds Of Kindness” could really be about anything. But since it’s Lanthimos, it’s fair to expect another mordant look at humanity with pitch-black humor that blurs the lines between melodrama, comedy, and horror. But Willem Dafoe gave Lanthimos fans something to go on in a March profile for The New York Times. Apparently, the actor let his co-star Stone slap him 20 times for a shot even though Dafoe doesn’t appear in it. And that, of course, made Lanthimos happy. “That’s what you want from actors,” said the director. “To want to be part of it in any way.”
No word yet on a release date for “Kinds Of Kindness,” but expect it to premiere at a prestige festival sometime next year. And if “Poor Things” does well this award season (and it very likely well), expect Searchlight to pull out all of the stops for Lanthimos’ next picture. With the buzz around “Poor Things,” “Kinds Of Kindness” is already one of 2024’s most anticipated films, even with the sudden name change.