Eddington (2025) Movie: All we know About Ari Aster’s Genre-Bending Western Starring Joaquin Phoenix & Pedro Pascal
The first trailer for Eddington has arrived—and it’s as eerie, electrifying, and oddly timely as fans hoped. In just a minute, Ari Aster throws us into a surreal spiral of COVID conspiracy theories, ominous social media scrolls, and rising tension in a sleepy town. It's a bold, unsettling introduction to what might be Aster’s most daring shift yet. And with a cast stacked with Oscar winners and nominees, it’s hard to look away.
A24 is backing this genre-bending Western black comedy, and after dominating horror with Hereditary and Midsommar, Aster is diving headfirst into unfamiliar territory. Gone are the supernatural horrors—Eddington instead blends political paranoia, dark satire, and razor-sharp human drama. And the latest trailer makes it clear: this film isn't just different, it's combustible. A Cannes premiere is on the horizon, and buzz is building fast.
With a top-tier ensemble and a director known for flipping genres on their heads, Eddington is shaping up to be one of 2025’s wildest cinematic experiences. We’re breaking down everything you need to know—casting updates, production secrets, new footage details, and what’s coming next. Keep checking back—we’ll be updating this constantly as new surprises drop.
Release date & Where to Watch
Eddington will have its world premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, where it debuts as part of the main competition lineup. After its Cannes debut, Eddington is set to open in theaters nationwide on Friday, July 18, 2025.
What is the plot of Eddington?
Eddington is set in the fictional town of Eddington, New Mexico during May 2020 and centers on an intense conflict between Sheriff Joe Cross and Mayor Ted Garcia. Described by A24 as a tale where “a standoff between a small-town sheriff and mayor sparks a powder keg as neighbor is pitted against neighbor,” the film blends political tension with a deep sense of unease.
The sheriff, who harbors higher political ambitions, challenges the incumbent mayor during an already volatile time — the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The confrontation seems to be deeply politicized, and the setting plays into a broader national atmosphere of fear and isolation.
Emma Stone plays the sheriff’s wife, while Austin Butler appears as a magnetic preacher whose online sermons stir the town’s emotions via YouTube and Instagram. While much of the plot remains under wraps, earlier reports suggest it begins with a couple stranded in the town, initially welcomed by locals until more sinister undertones emerge at nightfall.
During a Reddit AMA, Aster revealed he had written Eddington alongside Midsommar, describing it as “a revisionist Western… one foot is in the western and one foot is even more heavily in the noir genre. So it’s like a film noir ensemble western dark comedy.”
Who’s Starring in Eddington?
- Joaquin Phoenix (Joker, Beau Is Afraid) as Sheriff Joe Cross
- Pedro Pascal (The Last of Us, The Wild Robot, Materialists) as Ted Garcia
- Emma Stone (Poor Things, La La Land) as Louise Cross
- Austin Butler (Elvis, Dune: Part Two) as Vernon Jefferson Peak
- Luke Grimes (Yellowstone) as Guy
- Deirdre O'Connell (The Penguin) as Dawn
- Micheal Ward (The Old Guard) as Michael
- Clifton Collins Jr. (Jockey) as Lodge
- William Belleau (Killers of the Flower Moon) as Officer Butterfly Jimenez
- Cameron Mann (Mare of Easttown) as Brian
- Matt Gomez Hidaka (Silo) as Eric Garcia
- Amélie Hoeferle (The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes) as Sarah
- Landall Goolsby as Will
- Elise Falanga as Nicolette
- Robert Mark Wallace as Warren
- Rachel de la Torre as Paula
- David Pinter as Thin, Tattooed Man
- Keith Jardine as Muscular Man
Is There a Trailer for Eddington?
The trailer for Eddington drops viewers headfirst into a chaotic swirl of paranoia, politics, and pandemic-era unrest—all told through the lens of a doomscrolling social media feed.
The clip begins with an ominous voice-over, "Of course, they keep looking at that lab in Wuhan, China… When that was established, it was 1956, of course. That was the year Tom Hanks was born, the first celebrity with the virus." This sets the tone for the barrage of conspiracy theories and online hysteria that follows.
Joaquin Phoenix, playing the embattled Sheriff Joe Cross, is seen in a cowboy hat during a hearing, sternly warning, "If you value your life, you should think twice, because the people of Eddington like guns."
Amid the chaos, Austin Butler’s long-haired character, Vernon Jefferson, appears in a video giving a motivational speech, "Your pain is not a coincidence. You are not a coincidence. We are not a coincidence." His username, vernonjeffersonpeak, flashes onscreen—marking him as a spiritual influencer of sorts.
Emma Stone, under the handle louise.cross, publicly rebukes her husband's latest political statement, saying, "I’m speaking now to deny my husband’s announcement yesterday, which was false." Also featured is Amélie Hoeferle’s character, posting a TikTok-style video captioned:
“When you finish reading James Baldwin’s Giovanni’s Room” with the overlay text:
“1 like = 1 ACAB.”
Pedro Pascal’s Mayor Ted Garcia emerges on the feed, vowing to lead the town through crisis, “I’m ready to continue leading our town and fighting the pandemic and the racial and economic…”
Later, a chilling CNN headline appears:"'Law and Order' Sheriff Assaults Protestor in Town Rocked by Murders."
All of this content is revealed to be playing out on a phone—being scrolled through by a lonely, sleepless Joe Cross as he lies in bed, consumed by public scrutiny and personal demons.
The Eddington trailer offers no traditional plot summary—just an eerie mosaic of videos, captions, and soundbites that paint a disturbing picture of a town (and a man) on the brink. It’s dark, satirical, and dripping with Ari Aster’s signature dread.
When & Where did Eddington film?
Filming for Eddington took place between March and May 2024 in New Mexico, primarily in Albuquerque and the city of Truth or Consequences. The production drew local attention when Sierra County’s official website shared behind-the-scenes photos and updates from the shoot. According to the Production List, filming officially wrapped in May.
Several recognizable locations in downtown Truth or Consequences were transformed for the movie. The former BBQ on Broadway was revamped as the Sevilla County Sheriff’s Office, while the popular Giddy Up Cafe was rebranded as Paula’s Cafe, serving up Mexican and Greek dishes.
Other makeovers included Galactic Digs temporarily becoming a vacuum repair shop, and the long-vacant corner building at Jones and McAdoo turning into “GUNTHERS,” a fictional weapons and ammo store.
The film crew left a positive impression on the town, hosting casting calls for extras, coordinating closely with local businesses, and socializing at spots like T or C Brewing. Their presence brought a buzz to the area and gave locals a glimpse into the making of a major motion picture.
Behind the Scenes
Eddington is an upcoming American contemporary Western black comedy written and directed by Ari Aster. The film marks his fourth feature following Hereditary, Midsommar, and Beau Is Afraid—all of which were produced by A24. Aster once again teams up with producer Lars Knudsen under their Square Peg banner, with A24 co-financing and producing alongside IPR.VC.
The project was introduced to international buyers at Berlinale’s European Film Market in February 2025, hinting at a potential Cannes premiere. On April 9, 2025, it was confirmed that Bobby Krlic would compose the score, continuing his collaboration with Aster after scoring Midsommar and Beau Is Afraid.
Joaquin Phoenix, who previously starred in Beau Is Afraid, reunites with Aster for Eddington. In a 2023 interview with USA Today, Phoenix said of Aster, “I just thought, ‘I like talking to Ari and I want to keep talking to him. I could spend a few months with this guy.’ I could tell that he cared deeply about work but he was also funny.”
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