Sony Pictures Classics has scheduled Blue Moon, Richard Linklater’s latest film, for release on October 17 in New York and Los Angeles, with a broader rollout planned for October 24. The biographical drama centers on lyricist Lorenz Hart, one half of the iconic Rodgers and Hart songwriting duo, during a pivotal evening in 1943.
Set almost entirely at Sardi’s Restaurant, the film unfolds on the night Oklahoma! premiered on Broadway—Rodgers’ first collaboration with Oscar Hammerstein II after parting ways with Hart. Ethan Hawke plays Hart, who reflects on his legacy and confronts the emotional toll of professional displacement. The cast includes Margaret Qualley, Bobby Cannavale, and Andrew Scott.
The story takes place over a single night, capturing the personal and artistic reckoning of a man witnessing the reshaping of American musical theater without his involvement. Hawke and Linklater, long-time collaborators, team up for the ninth time on this project. Their partnership spans several decades and includes work across multiple genres.
Scott received the Silver Bear for Best Supporting Performance at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival, where Blue Moon had its world premiere. The festival marked the film’s first public screening, attracting attention for its focused narrative and performance-driven execution.
The screenplay is written by Robert Kaplow, author of Me and Orson Welles. Linklater shares producing duties with Mike Blizzard and John Sloss. Production companies involved include Detour and Renovo Media Group, in association with Wild Atlantic Pictures, Under the Influence, and Cinetic Media.
Executive producers on the project include Macdara Kelleher, Donna Eperon, and John Keville of Wild Atlantic, along with David Kingland, Lisa Crnic, and Aaron Wiederspahn of Renovo. Steven Farneth represents Cinetic Media’s contribution to the film’s executive production slate.
The visual and production elements are led by a team of experienced creatives. Shane F. Kelly handles cinematography, continuing his collaboration with Linklater from previous films including Boyhood and Hit Man. Production design is by Susie Cullen, whose recent credits include Abigail. Sandra Adair, an Academy Award nominee for her editing work on Boyhood, oversees the film’s editorial structure. Costume design is led by Consolata Boyle, a three-time Oscar nominee known for The Queen and other period-focused features.
The film’s domestic release date was announced in the same week that Linklater’s other project, Nouvelle Vague, premieres at the Cannes Film Festival. While unrelated in subject matter, both films have contributed to a renewed level of industry attention on Linklater’s recent creative output.
