A new science fiction film seems like it’s going to tackle that age-old truism about how life is only meaningful because it ends. In the feature debut of writer-director Maria Martinez Bayona, Rebecca Hall (Godzilla vs. Kong) is set to play “a former provocative artist” who, at the ripe old age of 250, decides it’s over. Here’s the synopsis, per Deadline’s announcement:
In a near-future world where ageing can be cured and death is now optional, Claire (Rebecca Hall) a former provocative artist approaching her 250th birthday, decides she’s had enough—she wants to die. Her decision stirs conflicts with her husband (Gael García Bernal), daughter (Noomi Rapace) and AI assistant (Beanie Feldstein), revealing the humorous complexity of their relationships. As Claire uses her impending death to reclaim her role as an artist, she is forced to face what it really means to die, to live, and the messy absurdity of it all.
This synopsis kind of glosses over what might be the most interesting part of this concept: In this future, can people freely choose their deaths? If death is optional, what happens to the cultural and religious taboos about choosing to end one’s life?
At any rate, that’s a pretty interesting cast. Hall switches easily between franchise films (like the current Godzilla series) and artier fare like Professor Marston and the Wonder Women (pictured above). Rapace is probably still best known as The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, but has also starred in Prometheus and the Apple TV+ series Constellation. Feldstein starred in Booksmart and had a delightful turn on What We Do in the Shadows, and Bernal is excellent in everything from Station Eleven to Werewolf by Night.
The End of It is in production now. No premiere date has been announced.