Ethan Coen’s first feature-length narrative feature outside of work with his brother Joel Coen isn’t even out yet (“Drive-Away Dolls”), but the filmmaker is already charting his next movie. The dark comedy, “Honey Don’t!,” will star Margaret Qualley, Aubrey Plaza, and Chris Evans. Co-written with Coen’s wife and new creative partner Tricia Cooke, the film will be the second in what’s been described as a lesbian comedy trilogy.
READ MORE: Ethan Coen Confirms He And Joel Are “Working On Writing Something” Together
The story is being kept under wraps, but THR said it will have the pulpy flavor of “Drive-Away Dolls,” which the duo is keen on continuing with. The story is hush-hush and not revealed, but sources tell them it’s set in Bakersfield, California, with Qually playing a private eye, Plaza, a mystery woman, and Evans, the leader of a cult.
Production is due to begin in late March in New Mexico so that we could have another Ethan Coen film out in 2025.
Coen and Cooke’s aforementioned first picture, “Drive-Away Dolls,” a lesbian comedy road trip that Focus Features will release on February 23, already stars Qualley along with Geraldine Viswanathan and Beanie Feldstein, so “Honey Don’t!” is repeat business for the young actress (the film also co-stars Colman Domingo, Pedro Pascal, Bill Camp, and Matt Damon)
‘Dolls’ was supposed to come out in September last year, but Focused delayed the release due to the SAG-AFTRA strike. Coen’s first directorial effort since splitting with his brother Joel is actually the documentary, “Jerry Lee Lewis: Trouble in Mind” from A24. However, it still does not have a release date despite a Cannes 2022 premiere (you can read our review here).
The Coen brothers as a filmmaking pair aren’t done, and the duo recently reiterated they will eventually collaborate again, but they are currently taking a break. One presumes that at the rate Ethan is working, a reunion of the Coen brothers will likely happen when the lesbian comedy trilogy is complete at the earliest, but who knows? Ethan recently admitted that the two already have something cooking.
Here’s the “Drive-Away Dolls” trailer if you haven’t already seen it.