Julia Roberts’ New Thriller After the Hunt Lands Prime Awards Season Spot

Entertainment
Bente Birkeland
February 15, 2025
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6 minutes read

(Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

Amazon MGM Studios is making a bold move by securing a prime awards season release for After the Hunt, the highly anticipated thriller directed by Luca Guadagnino. With a star-studded cast led by Julia Roberts, alongside Ayo Edebiri, Andrew Garfield, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Chloë Sevigny, the film is set for a limited theatrical release on October 10 before expanding to more theaters the following week.

The timing of this release is no coincidence—it positions the film perfectly for awards season buzz while smartly sidestepping direct competition with Universal’s The Black Phone 2 and Lionsgate’s Good Fortune, both hitting theaters nationwide on October 17.

After the Hunt follows Roberts as a college professor whose life is upended when a well-known student, played by Edebiri, accuses one of her colleagues, portrayed by Garfield. The gripping drama, written by Nora Garrett, is expected to tackle intense themes, making it a strong contender for critical acclaim.

Luca Guadagnino at the 2024 Met Gala: Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion at The Met Museum. (Photo by Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)

The project comes from Imagine Entertainment, with Guadagnino, Brian Grazer, Jeb Brody, and Allan Mandelbaum producing. Mandelbaum played a key role in bringing the script to Imagine and worked closely with CAA to secure both Roberts and Guadagnino for the film.

This marks another collaboration between Guadagnino and Amazon MGM Studios, following his work on Challengers, last year’s buzzy film starring Zendaya. The acclaimed director, known for his visually stunning and emotionally charged storytelling, has built an impressive resume with films like Call Me by Your Name (2017), Suspiria (2018), Bones and All (2022), and his upcoming adaptation Queer (2024).

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As for Roberts, the Oscar-winning actress continues to shine in diverse roles. She recently starred alongside George Clooney in the romantic comedy Ticket to Paradise and joined Mahershala Ali and Ethan Hawke in Netflix’s thriller Leave the World Behind, which premiered last year.

With an all-star cast, a powerhouse director, and a release date set for maximum awards season impact, After the Hunt is shaping up to be one of the year’s must-watch thrillers. Fans of Roberts and Guadagnino won’t have to wait long to see what promises to be a gripping and thought-provoking film.