Fresh off the film’s rapturous response at the SXSW Film Festival, the first red-band trailer for Annapurna Pictures’ R-rated coming-of-age comedyBooksmarthas been released online. The film marks the directorial debut ofOlivia Wilde, and response from its world premiere this weekend wasinsanelypositive, with many comparing it positively toSuperbadwhile also noting that it’s a potential new classic in the coming-of-age/high school comedy genre.
The film tells the story of two high school best friends, played byBeanie Feldstein(Lady Bird) andKaitlyn Dever(Short Term 12), and chronicles the bonds we create that last a lifetime. Wilde works from a script byEmily Halpern(Trophy Wife) &Sarah Haskins(Trophy Wife) andSusanna Fogel(The Spy Who Dumped Me) andKate Silberman(Set It Up), butmanycritics who saw the film at SXSW noted that Wilde is a natural talent behind the camera, and will be one to watch going forward a laGreta Gerwig’s directorial debutLady Bird.
This trailer is definitely impressive. We already knew Feldstein and Dever were young talents to watch, and I love the idea of letting them lead a film that’s all their own. I think “femaleSuperbad” is maybe a bit reductive—the story appears to be acknowledging new social norms that the world ofSuperbaddidn’t address—but that’s certainly an easy way to sell this thing, and if that gets more eyeballs in front of an exciting new filmmaker, I’m all for it.
Check out the red-band trailer forBooksmartbelow, followed by new images and the film’s poster. The film also starsBillie Lourd,Jessica Williams,Will Forte, andJason Sudeikis. It hits theaters on May 24th.
Here’s the official logline forBooksmart:
Told from a wildly original, fresh and modern perspective, Booksmart is an unfiltered comedy about high school best friends and the bonds we create that last a lifetime. Capturing the spirit of our times, the film is a coming of age story for a new generation.
