It’s not that word of mouth is necessarily bad for Sam Esmail’s “Leave the World Behind,” it’s just that the filmmaker and Netflix can’t seem to make up their mind on what ending they want for the film.
Word is that the Julia Roberts starring film from the Mr. Robot creator has test-screened four different endings. Make up your mind already.
Denzel Washington was originally supposed to star alongside Roberts but was replaced last year by Mahershala Ali. Kevin Bacon and Ethan Hawke also star in this mindbending dystopian drama.
Based on the 2020 novel of the same name by Rumaan Alam, the film is dated for a December 8th, 2023 launch, possibly World premiering at TIFF. Here’s the official synopsis via Netflix:
“A family vacation on Long Island is interrupted by two strangers bearing news of a mysterious blackout. As the threat grows more imminent, both families must decide how best to survive the potential crisis, all while grappling with their own place in this collapsing world.”
Filming began on April 2022 in Long Island. It looks like an intriguing project. I just wish Washington had stayed on as planned, which is not to say Ali is not a plus, he’s a commendable actor, but Denzel is Denzel.