Tessa Thompson is stepping into Charlie Kaufman’s surreal world, joining Eddie Redmayne and Patsy Ferran in his next film, Later the War. The Oscar-winning filmmaker, best known for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Being John Malkovich, is set to write and direct the project, marking his return to live-action filmmaking.
The film is based on the short story Debby’s Dream House by Iddo Gefen, which can be found in the author’s Jerusalem Beach collection. The original story follows a man who manufactures dreams for people—until things take a dark turn and those dreams become nightmares. How closely Kaufman’s adaptation will stick to the source material is anyone’s guess, but knowing his track record, expect something mind-bending, thought-provoking, and just the right amount of weird.
Thompson is no stranger to unique storytelling. From her roles in Annihilation and Little Woods to the Creed franchise and Marvel’s Thor saga, she’s proven time and again that she can tackle anything. Up next, she’s leading the Netflix miniseries His & Hers, a murder mystery drama that pairs her with Jon Bernthal and Pablo Schreiber. Now, she’s set to bring her talents to Kaufman’s latest, and we’re here for it.
The film is backed by Ken Kao and Josh Rosenbaum’s Waypoint Entertainment, alongside Sarah Green of Brace Cove Productions and Steven Demmler. Suraj Maraboyina’s 131 Pictures is fully financing, with WME Independent and CAA Media Finance handling distribution rights.
While plot details remain under wraps, Kaufman’s signature style guarantees Later the War won’t be your typical dream vs. nightmare story. If his past work is any indication, we’re in for a psychological ride with existential dread, surreal humor, and characters that will stay with us long after the credits roll.
What do you think? Are you excited to see Tessa Thompson step into Kaufman’s world? Let’s talk in the comments!