We now have our first look atHypnotic,the upcoming thriller from acclaimed directorRobert Rodriguez.An exclusive image from the film has been revealed byVariety, which shows toplinerBen Affleckin action. While details on the film’s plot remain slim, a logline forHypnoticsays thatAffleck will play a detectivewho is investigating a series of inexplicable crimes while searching for his missing daughter, whose disappearance is somehow involved with a secret government program.
The first look from Variety shows Affleck with a concerned look on his face, holding up what appears to be a polaroid picture of his daughter. In addition to Affleck,Hypnoticwill co-star an ensemble cast ofAlice Braga, JD Pardo, Hala Finley, Dayo Okeniyi, Jeff Fahey, Jackie Earle Haley,andWilliam Fichtner. Not much is known about the characters they will play, other thanFinley will portray Affleck’s missing daughter.
In addition to the first look, it was also reported that Rodriguez will screen a work-in-progress cut ofHypnoticat the upcoming SXSW Film Festival in Austin, Texas, on March 12. While the film is not fully edited, the screening will give festival attendees a taste of what the final cut ofHypnoticmay have in store. Rodriguez is no stranger to SXSW, with the Texas native having premiered his 2019 filmRed 11at the festival.
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Rodriguez will produceHypnoticthrough his Troublemaker Studios banner, along withJeff RobinovandJohn Grahamfor Studio 8,Mark Gill, Guy Botham, Lisa Ellzey, and Rodriguez’s sonRacer Rodriguez.The project was originally a collaboration between Studio 8 and Gill’s Solstice Studios, but Solstice’s distribution rights have since been sold to Ketchup Entertainment. In addition to directing and producing, Rodriguez penned the screenplay along with Racer and Max Borenstein.
Hypnoticis something of a passion project for Rodriguez, who is known for big-budget tentpoles like theSin CityandSpy Kidsseries. He also helmed 2005’s cult classicThe Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl.Rodriguezpreviously told Colliderhe had been dreaming upHypnoticfor the last two decades, and described the film as “a Hitchcock thriller on steroids.” He added that the film had “a lot of twists, a lot of turns,” and was “very energetic.”
Affleck, meanwhile, is revving up his engines for his nextdirectorial feature,Air.The film, which co-stars Affleck andMatt Damon,will depict the inside story of Nike’s efforts to sign NBA legendMichael Jordanto a shoe deal. He is also slated to reprise his role as Batman in the upcoming DC filmsThe FlashandAquaman and the Lost Kingdom.
Hypnoticwill be released theatrically by Ketchup, though a premiere date has not been announced. Check out our interview with Rodriguez below:
