My Dead Friend Zoe

Last updated
My Dead Friend Zoe
Directed byKyle Hausmann-Stokes
Screenplay byKyle Hausmann-Stokes
A. J. Bermudez
Based onMerit x Zoe
by Kyle Hausmann-Stokes
Produced by
Starring Sonequa Martin-Green
Natalie Morales
Ed Harris
Morgan Freeman
Gloria Reuben
Utkarsh Ambudkar
Production
companies
Distributed by Briarcliff Entertainment [1]
Release dates
  • March 9, 2024 (2024-03-09)(SXSW)
  • November 1, 2024 (2024-11-01)(United States)
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

My Dead Friend Zoe is a 2024 American war comedy-drama film written by Kyle Hausmann-Stokes and A. J. Bermudez, directed by Hausmann-Stokes and starring Sonequa Martin-Green, Natalie Morales, Ed Harris, Morgan Freeman, Gloria Reuben and Utkarsh Ambudkar. It is based on Hausmann-Stokes's short film Merit x Zoe. It is also Hausmann-Stokes's feature directorial debut. [2] [3] It premiered at South by Southwest on March 9, 2024, where it won the Audience Award, and is scheduled to be theatrically released in the United States on November 1, 2024, by Briarcliff Entertainment. [4]

Contents

Cast

Production

According to VARIETY, it's the first film co-financed using President Biden's green energy tax credits under an innovative structure deployed by Mike Field and Ray Maiello at Radiant Media Studios (Maiello is also a producer on the film). [6] Radiant Media Studios also brought on Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce to the project as executive producer representing Kelce's first production credit. Legion M co-financed under their crowdfunding model.

In May 2023, it was announced that Harris, Martin-Green, and Morales were cast in the film. [2] In June 2023, it was announced that Freeman, Reuben, and Ambudkar were cast in the film. [3] Filming occurred in Portland, Oregon, Forest Grove, Oregon and Molalla, Oregon in 2023. [7]

In September 2023, it was announced that filming wrapped. [8]

Awards and Reception

The film won the Audience Award in competition at SXSW and its reception has been highly positive with a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on thirteen reviews, including several from the top film critics (Variety, Deadline, IndieWire, Collider, Hollywood Reporter). [9]

Valerie Complex from Deadline gave the film a strongly positive review stating "My Dead Friend Zoe is a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit" as did IndieWire stating the film is "possessed of a realism that has to come from heartbreaking firsthand experience" and Variety and The Daily Beast concluding the film's "strong performances and Hausmann Stokes’ clearly conveyed emotional investment in his storytelling makes My Dead Friend Zoe consistently engaging."

“Sonequa Martin-Green Is Giving One of the Year's Best Performances” - Matt Donato, Collider

“A powerful drama with a phenomenal performance at its core and another reminder that Ed Harris is one of our best living actors in its supporting cast.” – Brian Tallerico, Roger Ebert

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References

  1. ↑ Lang, Brent (18 June 2024). "Briarcliff Entertainment Buys SXSW Audience Award Winner 'My Dead Friend Zoe'". Variety . Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  2. 1 2 Grobar, Matt (May 17, 2023). "Ed Harris, Sonequa Martin-Green & Natalie Morales Board Dark Veteran Dramedy 'My Dead Friend Zoe'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  3. 1 2 Grobar, Matt (June 27, 2023). "Morgan Freeman, Gloria Reuben & Utkarsh Ambudkar Board Veteran Dramedy 'My Dead Friend Zoe'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  4. ↑ Complex, Valerie (2024-01-10). "SXSW Lineup Sets 'The Fall Guy', '3 Body Problem' Among Fest's 2024 World Premieres As First Titles Revealed". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-01-11.
  5. ↑ Gervasi, Alessia (September 29, 2023). "Actor from Buffalo uses comedy to tell serious stories". WGRZ. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  6. ↑ Siegel, Tatiana (February 13, 2024). "'Travis Kelce's Debut as a Film Producer Is Also the First Movie Financed Using President Biden's Green Energy Tax Credits (EXCLUSIVE)'". Variety. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
  7. ↑ Bourgeois, Michaela. "Oregon-made film 'My Dead Friend Zoe' set for world premiere at SXSW". KOIN. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  8. ↑ Grobar, Matt (September 12, 2023). "'Star Trek: Discovery's Sonequa Martin-Green Inks With IAG". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  9. ↑ "My Dead Friend Zoe" . Retrieved March 11, 2024.
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