Ayo Edebiri Stars in A24 ‘Opus’ New Trailer
A24, the studio behind Hereditary and Talk to Me, has dropped the first look at Opus, a pop music thriller starring Ayo Edebiri alongside John Malkovich. Described as the “event of the century,” the film follows a young journalist who is recruited by a mysterious pop star and drawn into his celebrity cult, an unsettling world of obsessed fans and drug-fueled media figures, all set against the creation of his “perfect album,” which lends the film its title.
Written and directed by Mark Anthony Green, Opus is set to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 27. The film features an impressive cast, including Men in Black II star Rosario Dawson, Yellowjackets standout Juliette Lewis, and Tony Hale of Veep. Murray Bartlett (The White Lotus) and Amber Midthunder (Avatar: The Last Airbender) also make appearances.
First look at Ayo Edebiri in ‘OPUS’, premiering at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.
— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) December 11, 2024
The A24 horror film follows a young writer who is invited to the remote compound of a legendary pop star who mysteriously disappeared 30 years ago. pic.twitter.com/FiEXfq1iHH
This marks Ayo Edebiri’s first attempt at horror. Edebiri rose to mainstream fame with her Golden Globe- and Emmy-winning portrayal of Sydney Ademu on Hulu’s The Bear. She also starred in Bottoms, the queer comedy co-written by Rachel Sennott, and has a recurring role in ABC’s hit series Abbott Elementary. Additionally, she writes for and voices a character in Netflix’s acclaimed animated comedy Big Mouth, whose final season is set to release later this year.
John Malkovich, whose career spans nearly five decades, is best known for his meta performance in Being John Malkovich. He earned an Emmy for his role in the 1985 TV adaptation of Death of a Salesman and received critical acclaim for films like The Killing Fields and Of Mice and Men. He is also set to star in Marvel Studios’ upcoming reboot of The Fantastic Four, scheduled for release this July, though his character remains under wraps.
The trailer, which debuted on Tuesday, has been met with enthusiastic responses from fans. Many have drawn comparisons to Blink Twice, the Zoë Kravitz-directed thriller about a celebrity cult, which starred Channing Tatum and Naomi Ackie and earned critical acclaim.
Adding to the allure of the thriller is its music, composed by the legendary Nile Rodgers and The-Dream. Rodgers, known for his decades-long career producing for David Bowie, Mick Jagger, and Chic, teamed up with The-Dream, who has crafted pop hits for artists like Rihanna, Beyoncé, and Justin Bieber. Both serve as executive producers for the film.
A24 has a history of producing critically acclaimed films such as Ti West’s X series, Lady Bird, and the Nicole Kidman-led Babygirl. Opus will hit theaters on March 14. You can watch the trailer here.
