Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal Star in Western Set During 2020: Explores Social Unrest, Conspiracies, and Violence in New Trailer
Sparks debate with conspiracy theories and political tensions.
COVID conspiracy theories dominate the first full trailer for Ari Aster’s latest film, Eddington. The Western revisits the politically charged summer of 2020, focusing on a mayoral race between a small-town sheriff (Phoenix) and the incumbent (Pascal). The footage takes viewers back five years, showing scenes of enforced six-foot social distancing, protests sparked by George Floyd’s murder, and online conspiracy theorists fueling unrest. The trailer also ramps up genre elements with explosions, gunfights, and a mysterious corporate private plane hovering over the desert.
The cast includes Austin Butler, Emma Stone, Luke Grimes, Deirdre O’Connell, Micheal Ward, Amélie Hoeferle, Clifton Collins Jr., and William Belleau. Eddington is Aster’s fourth feature after Hereditary, Midsommar, and Beau Is Afraid. The trailer follows its Cannes premiere in the official competition section, where it received mixed reviews. Variety critic Owen Gleiberman called it a provocative Western thriller capturing America’s creeping unreality.
At Cannes’ press conference, Pascal addressed concerns about making politically charged films in today’s climate:
“Fear is how they win,” he said. “Keep telling stories, keep expressing yourself… Fight back. This is the perfect way to do so.”
Eddington hits theaters on July 18 from A24. Watch the full trailer below.
