Julia Roberts is back on the screen and she’s bringing a whole new level of intensity in Leave the World Behind, Netflix’s upcoming heart-pounding apocalyptic thriller. Directed and penned by Sam Esmail, the mastermind behind ‘Mr. Robot,’ this adaptation of Rumaan Alam’s 2020 novel promises to be a mind-bending exploration of humanity’s darkest fears.
The upcoming apocalyptic rollercoaster sees Academy Award winner Julia Roberts take centre stage as Amanda, while Ethan Hawke joins her as her husband, Clay Sandford. Their idyllic family weekend takes a spine-chilling turn when Mahershala Ali, playing the homeowner G.H. Scott, arrives with his daughter, played by Myha’la Herrold, seeking refuge “from a cyberattack that grows more terrifying by the minute.”
The under-two-minute trailer doesn’t reveal much beyond what’s already mentioned in the official synopsis, which reads, “A family’s vacation is upended when two strangers arrive at night, seeking refuge from a cyberattack that grows more terrifying by the minute, forcing everyone to come to terms with their places in a collapsing world.” The impressive cast also features Kevin Bacon in the role of Danny, a construction worker who’s deep into conspiracy theories, along with Farrah Mackenzie and Charlie Evans playing Rose and Archie, the kids of Roberts and Hawke’s characters.
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The first ‘Leave the World Behind‘ trailer opens with an unexpected visit from Mahershala Ali’s G.H. Scott and his daughter to Roberts and Ethan Hawke’s place. Scott claims to be the owner of the house the Sandfords rented for the weekend and asks if they can stay with the family for the night. When Amanda (Roberts) asks Scott, “Why did you come here?,” he explains, “In my line of work, you have to understand the patterns that govern the world. That can help you see the future. And I knew something was coming.”
The plot thickens as the characters become aware of the expanding cyberattack, which spirals beyond a mere blackout into a nightmarish ordeal. With communication cut off and the world plunging into chaos, the two families find themselves trapped together, desperately seeking a way to survive. Kevin Bacon’s Danny adds a grim perspective, saying, “Haven’t you been picking up on what’s going on out there? We’ve all been deserted.” As the trailer reaches its crescendo with a deafening sonic boom, Ali’s Scott delivers the truth to the Sandfords, “There’s no going back to normal.”
In addition to handling writing and directing duties, Sam Esmail also shares producer credits with Chad Hamilton, Roberts, Marisa Yeres Gill, and Lisa Gillan. ‘Leave the World Behind‘ marks the very first fictional film produced by Higher Ground Productions, a company founded by Barack and Michelle Obama. Both of them hold executive producer credits for the movie.
‘Leave the World Behind‘ is slated to debut in select theatres on November 22, followed by its streaming release on Netflix starting December 8.
