Ruben Östlundās The Entertainment System Is Down ā a dark satire starring Kirsten Dunst, Keanu Reeves and Daniel Brühl ā has now started filming.
Hereās a project that has sounded rather enticing, ever since it was first announced in April of last year. Ruben Östlund, the filmmaker behind Force Majeure and Triangle Of Sadness has assembled an exciting cast for what looks to be a story examining the darker impulses of human nature.
A24 is backing The Entertainment System Is Down, and the boutique studio is really backing Östlund in what weāre hoping retains the filmmakerās arthouse sensibilities while also appealing to a broader audience. As well as footing the bill for an incredible ensemble of acting talent, A24 has also backed the purchase of a retired Boeing 747 for the film, which is presumably sitting on a studio backlot somewhere in Budapest as Östlund uses it to make his movie.
Back to that cast: Keanu Reeves, Kirsten Dunst, Daniel Brühl, Nicholas Braun, Samantha Morton and Tobias Menzies are all part of the leading ensemble while co-starring are Connor Swindells, Daniel Webber, Lindsay Duncan, Wayne Blair, Dan Wyllie, Allan Corduner, Sofia Tjelta Sydness, Erin Ainsworth, Myles Kamwendo, Sanna Sundqvist, Elle Piper, Tea Stjärne, and Swedish artist Benjamin Ingrosso.
Hereās the setup: On board the ‘kangaroo route’ between the UK and Australia, the nearly 24-hour flight sees the plane’s entertainment system break, so the passengers are forced to contend with boredom.
Production is scheduled to last around 70 days, but thereās no word yet as to when A24 might be looking to release it. Could it be towards the back end of this year? The studio already has Friendship, Death Of A Unicorn and If I Had Legs Iād Kick You lined up for the back half of 2025, although none of those movies are dated yet.
Perhaps The Entertainment System Is Down might find itself placed earlier in 2026, maybe in that prime April slot that went to Alex Garlandās Civil War last year. Garland is occupying the same slot again this year for A24 with Warfare, which he has co-directed with Ray Mendoza.
When we do hear more, though, weāll let you know.