Damien Chazelle, the director of La La Land and Whiplash, is preparing what looks to be a major comeback after the infamous failure of Babylon in 2022. His next project is an untitled 1940s psychodrama set inside a prison, and he has assembled two of the most compelling actors working today to lead it: Daniel Craig and Cillian Murphy.According to GQ, for Craig, the film continues what has been a deliberately eclectic post-Bond era, following his role in Knives Out and his famous performance in Queer. For Murphy, it’s largely business as usual, as the art house and mid-budget space has become familiar territory even in the years since Oppenheimer’s film and his Oscar win for best actor.
What we know about the movie so far
Concrete details are still scarce due to the secrecy surrounding the project.
The film is currently untitled, a release date has not been confirmed, and the cast has not been officially announced. However, movie blog World of Reel reports that Craig will play a warden who sets out to break “a defiant Murphy prisoner” into a “brutal correctional system.”Production began last month, suggesting a 2027 release is a reasonable expectation.
Michelle Williams
and Mia Threapleton have also been confirmed to have been cast Threapleton reportedly filmed the shooting scenes with Murphy late last month.
Why does the film generate so much awards buzz?
High-profile prison dramas have historically done well at the Oscars, and on paper, this project fits that mold convincingly. The psychological angle draws comparisons to Alan Parker’s “Midnight Express,” one of the most iconic entries in the genre. With Craig yet to receive an Oscar nomination and Murphy winning his first, the combination of material and talent makes this one of the most anticipated awards on the horizon.Chazelle’s untitled film is expected to arrive in 2027.
