The road movie has been a generation-defining genre since films first landed on our big screens, and now Ethan Coen, with the help of a bunch of notable A-listers and a mysterious suitcase igniting a band of inept criminals, we might be getting another one for the books.
Drive-Away Dolls is the first film from Coen directed without his brother and longtime collaborator Joel. The pair, who became iconic auteurs with the likes of Fargo, Inside Llewyn Davis, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs and No Country for Old Men, parted ways in 2019 to focus on solo ventures. Since then, Joel has lent his eye to an adaptation of Macbeth, but now it's Ethan's turn for solo stardom.
Ethan has roped in a buffet of buzzy faves for his take on the classic odd couple caper. Here's everything we know about Drive Away Dolls.
What is Drive-Away Dolls about?
Drive-Away Dolls takes an iconic conceit - that of two unassuming people getting roped into life-threatening shenanigans accidentally - but gives it a Coen flair.
The film follows two friends who just need to get out of town for a bit. One of them (Margaret Qualley) is wounded from a breakup, while the other (Geraldine Viswanathan) needs to unwind a little. The pair hire a car to drive down to Florida, but quickly learn their rented ride holds some secrets in its trunk that a fair few bumbling criminals want to get their hands on. Cue the shenanigans.
Who is starring in Drive-Away Dolls?
Who isn't starring in Drive-Away Dolls? Is probably a better question.
Coen has roped in some of the buzziest stars about, including Margaret Qualley, known for Netflix's The Maid, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and for being one of our favourite nepo babies (her mum is Andie McDowell), and Geraldine Viswanathan, known for the comedy Blockers and the series Miracle Workers, who take on the lead roles.
Elsewhere, he also ropes in the internet's favourite apocalypse daddy, Pedro Pascal and Matt Damon, who seem to be starring as two crumbling criminals looking for a steal. There's also Beanie Feldstein, who is never not a delight on screen, and Bill Camp.
Ethan Coen is behind the camera, he also wrote the film alongside Tricia Cooke. Despite the film not even being out yet, the pair have actually hinted that it could only be the start of something bigger. Speaking to Collider, the pair said “Over the past 20 years, we’ve been writing this lesbian B-movie trilogy. Not really a trilogy, but the idea was to write three queer B movies that I always thought would just kind of sit in the drawer and our kids would look at one day when they were old and get some laughs. And now we've made one of them.”
Coen also added, “We have another one written. The problem with writing two is then you’re obliged to do a third because nobody does two. You gotta do a trilogy. I don’t even know the word for two corresponding to a trilogy.”
Is there a trailer for Drive-Away Dolls?
Yes. There's a full trailer that gives you everything you could want to know, except what's in that damn suitcase!
When will Drive-Away Dolls be released?
Drive-Away Dolls was due to hit our screens this September, however, it's met the same fate a lot of autumn films this year have. Due to the ongoing SAG AFTRA strikes in Hollywood, its release has now been pushed to 23 February 2024. Still, what's a good old-fashioned road trip movie for the winter months, anyway?
