Here's the trailer for the David Corenswet-starring "Mr. Irrelevant," which is coming off strong test screenings that led Paramount to position Jonathan Levine's sports biopic for a Christmas Day wide release, a window often reserved for major commercial and awards-season hopefuls.
This is apparently the film that convinced Paramount Levine was the man to direct "Days of Thunder 2." A major promotion for a filmmaker who had never been given the opportunity to helm a major blockbuster.
Of course, test screenings are far from a guarantee of box-office success or awards prospects, and with several months remaining before its theatrical release, the film will face stiff competition, sandwiched between 'Dunesday' and 'Jumanji 3.' Still, maybe "Mr. Irrelevant" can serve as optimal counterprogramming to those blockbusters.
The film stars Corenswet as John Tuggle — a man who had the absolute worst luck. There is nothing triumphant about how this story ends.
Tuggle was selected last in the 1983 NFL Draft by the New York Giants. He died of cancer in 1986 and played just one season, but left a significant impact on his team. Tuggle was also the subject of the ESPN "30 for 30" short "The Irrelevant Giant."
Levine has a reliable track record. In 2011, he directed the well-reviewed stoner-cancer dramedy "50/50," and he later made the 2015 holiday stoner comedy "The Night Before," which has quietly become a modern Christmas staple. He also helmed the hit comedy "Long Shot," starring Charlize Theron alongside Seth Rogen. "Warm Bodies," his well-received 2013 zombie comedy, was also a box-office success, grossing $118M worldwide.
"Mr. Irrelevant," which carries a $30M budget, hits theaters on December 25 via Paramount Pictures. Will it crash the Oscar race? I have my doubts, but the buzz seems to indicate a film audiences will love.
“Hope,” Na’s first film in ten years — his last one being the exemplary “The Wailing” —is a gloriously messy, blood-soaked sci-fi epic that may become a cult classic despite—or because of—its polarizing nature.