Tony Gilroy, the visionary behind the acclaimed Star Wars series Andor, is returning to directing with Behemoth!, a new drama starring Pedro Pascal. The film, scheduled for a December release from Searchlight Pictures, is described as a captivating mystery centered around music. While not a science fiction adventure, the project reunites Gilroy with his Star Wars collaborator, Pascal.
The first trailer for Behemoth! depicts Pascal as Alex Serian, a gifted cellist who returns to Los Angeles after two decades on tour. Music, a lifelong passion, pulls him into an adventure that promises to change him forever. The trailer also shows Pascal interacting with his brother, played by Will Arnett, and a former partner, portrayed by Olivia Wilde, within a high-stress musical environment that evokes comparisons to films like Whiplash.
Gilroy is not only directing but also writing and producing Behemoth!. He is collaborating with several key creatives from Andor, including his brother John Gilroy as editor and producer, cinematographer Damián García, and producer Sanne Wohlenberg. Brandon Roberts is contributing to the score, which will also feature work from eight additional composers, including veterans James Newton Howard and Alan Silvestri.
Behemoth! marks Gilroy's first project since the highly successful Andor, a Star Wars spinoff praised for its complex characters and political intrigue. The series' critical success follows a career marked by similarly dense and tightly written thrillers, such as Michael Clayton, and his significant contributions to the Bourne franchise and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. While the subject matter of Behemoth! may differ from Gilroy's previous genre work, his established track record suggests a compelling cinematic experience awaits audiences.