Joe Swanberg Sets First Feature in Eight Years, Casts Dakota Fanning and Jake Johnson

Joe Swanberg, one of the central architects and amplifiers of the mumblecore genre, hasn’t directed a feature length film since 2017’s underrated “Win it All.” His work since then has leaned more toward streaming series and micro-budget indie ventures, such as the 57-minute “Build the Wall.”

With all that in mind, Swanberg is back, setting up his first film in over eight years. Deadline is reporting that Dakota Fanning, Jake Johnson and Cory Michael Smith will star in Swanberg’s next project, an Alaska-set untitled “romantic drama.” Plot details are currently under wraps.

Whether you love mumblecore or find it polarizing, Swanberg has undeniably shaped 21st-century cinema with his lo-fi, dialogue-heavy approach that prioritizes improvisation, naturalistic performances, and intimate stories. He played a key role in redefining the possibilities of microbudget filmmaking.

Swanberg has directed 20 features, which is a lot for someone who is 43, and truth be told, many of them have been duds, but some have been genuine treats such as “Drinking Buddies,” “Win it All,” “Happy Christmas.” and “Hannah Takes the Stairs.”