My Dead Friend Zoe

2024 American film
  • Paul Scanlan
  • Terri Lubaroff
  • Richard Silverman
  • Ray Maiello
  • Mike Field
  • Travis Kelce
StarringSonequa Martin-Green
Natalie Morales
Ed Harris
Morgan Freeman
Gloria Reuben
Utkarsh Ambudkar
Production
companies
  • Legion M
  • Radiant Media Studios
Distributed byBriarcliff Entertainment[1]
Release dates
  • March 9, 2024 (2024-03-09) (SXSW)
  • November 1, 2024 (2024-11-01) (United States)
CountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglish

My Dead Friend Zoe is a 2024 American war comedy-drama film written by Kyle Hausmann-Stokes and A. J. Bermudez, directed by Hausmann-Stokes and starring Sonequa Martin-Green, Natalie Morales, Ed Harris, Morgan Freeman, Gloria Reuben and Utkarsh Ambudkar. It is based on Hausmann-Stokes's short film Merit x Zoe. It is also Hausmann-Stokes's feature directorial debut.[2][3] It premiered at South by Southwest on March 9, 2024, where it won the Audience Award, and is scheduled to be theatrically released in the United States on November 1, 2024, by Briarcliff Entertainment.[4]

Cast

Production

According to Variety, it's the first film ever to be financed using green energy tax credits under a new model created by Mike Field and Ray Maiello at Radiant Media Studios (Maiello produced the film).[6] Radiant Media Studios brought Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce to the project as executive producer (Kelce's first production credit). Legion M co-financed under their crowdfunding model.

In May 2023, it was announced that Harris, Martin-Green, and Morales were cast in the film.[2] In June 2023, it was announced that Freeman, Reuben, and Ambudkar were cast in the film.[3] Filming occurred in Portland, Oregon, Forest Grove, Oregon and Molalla, Oregon in 2023.[7]

In September 2023, it was announced that filming wrapped.[8]

Awards and Reception

The film won the Audience Award in competition at SXSW in 2024. The film has received critical acclaim from top critics. Variety, Deadline, IndieWire, Collider, Roger Ebert and Hollywood Reporter all published stellar reviews for the film after its SXSW World Premiere. My Dead Friend Zoe currently has a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.[9]

"My Dead Friend Zoe is a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit" - Valerie Complex, Deadline

“Sonequa Martin-Green Is Giving One of the Year's Best Performances” - Matt Donato, Collider

“A powerful drama with a phenomenal performance at its core and another reminder that Ed Harris is one of our best living actors in its supporting cast.” – Brian Tallerico, Roger Ebert

References

  1. ^ Lang, Brent (18 June 2024). "Briarcliff Entertainment Buys SXSW Audience Award Winner 'My Dead Friend Zoe'". Variety. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  2. ^ a b Grobar, Matt (May 17, 2023). "Ed Harris, Sonequa Martin-Green & Natalie Morales Board Dark Veteran Dramedy 'My Dead Friend Zoe'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  3. ^ a b Grobar, Matt (June 27, 2023). "Morgan Freeman, Gloria Reuben & Utkarsh Ambudkar Board Veteran Dramedy 'My Dead Friend Zoe'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  4. ^ Complex, Valerie (2024-01-10). "SXSW Lineup Sets 'The Fall Guy', '3 Body Problem' Among Fest's 2024 World Premieres As First Titles Revealed". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-01-11.
  5. ^ Gervasi, Alessia (September 29, 2023). "Actor from Buffalo uses comedy to tell serious stories". WGRZ. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  6. ^ Siegel, Tatiana (February 13, 2024). "'Travis Kelce's Debut as a Film Producer Is Also the First Movie Financed Using President Biden's Green Energy Tax Credits (EXCLUSIVE)'". Variety. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
  7. ^ Bourgeois, Michaela. "Oregon-made film 'My Dead Friend Zoe' set for world premiere at SXSW". KOIN. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  8. ^ Grobar, Matt (September 12, 2023). "'Star Trek: Discovery's Sonequa Martin-Green Inks With IAG". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  9. ^ "My Dead Friend Zoe". Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  • My Dead Friend Zoe at IMDb