If you loved Mary Bronstein’s “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You,” starring Rose Byrne, as much as I did — then this news should put a smile on your face.
Warner Bros. Clockwork has announced that Bronstein and Byrne are set to reteam on “Nasty,” co-starring Jenna Ortega. Cameras are expected to roll this fall on the film, which was a 2024 Black List screenplay by Isabella Jarosz.
“Nasty” centers around a “prodigious athlete battling for a spot on the Olympic gymnastics team. However, she must overcome her biggest opponent: her coach. After an injury sidelines her Olympic training, the determined gymnast must regain her demanding coach’s trust while facing off against a prodigious new competitor threatening to eclipse her place in the spotlight.”
The Warner Bros. Clockwork announcement for the film came with a tagline — “if you don’t hate it, you don’t love it” — alongside a 2027 theatrical release date.
Bronstein impressed many with “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You,” her sophomore effort and a major artistic leap forward, which led to a much-deserved Oscar nomination for Byrne. Now, with “Nasty” set to begin production, she might have a new film coming out next year.
In “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You,” Byrne plays Linda, a woman attempting to navigate her child’s mysterious illness, her absent husband, a missing person, and an increasingly hostile relationship with her therapist. In a nutshell, her life — and mental state — are crumbling before our very eyes.
It’s no surprise that ‘Legs’ shares traits with John Cassavetes’ “A Woman Under the Influence.” Like that film, it is anchored by immensely intimate and visceral direction, as well as an incredible lead performance. Byrne deserved to win the Oscar for her savage turn.
AMC Entertainment is entering film distribution with Leawood Films, a new company aimed at bringing independent and emerging filmmakers’ movies to theaters.