Will Arnett has stepped into a lead role in Tony Gilroy’s Searchlight drama Behemoth!, replacing David Harbour after Harbour exited the film during production.
Searchlight confirmed Harbour “stepped back” from the project, and a person familiar with the situation said he left to rest after an intense two-month promotional stretch tied to the final season of Stranger Things. Harbour’s representatives did not respond to a request for comment.
The film has kept story details tight, but an early logline describes Behemoth! as following “a musician from a family of musicians who returns to Los Angeles,” framed as “a love letter to the music of the movies and the people who make it.” Gilroy wrote the script and directs, with Searchlight backing the project.
Arnett joins a cast that includes Pedro Pascal and Olivia Wilde, with Eva Victor, Matthew Lillard, Margarita Levieva, and Alexa Swinton also on board, according to multiple reports tied to the casting change. Production began in late October, and Harbour and Wilde were photographed filming scenes in Los Angeles in December.
The swap appears designed to keep cameras rolling. One report said Harbour had not shot much of his material yet, limiting the amount of footage that needs to be redone and reducing the risk of a schedule reset. The move also shifts the tone of the ensemble on paper: Arnett arrives with a comedy-forward résumé, while Gilroy’s recent work has leaned toward character-driven adult drama. Searchlight has not announced a release date, and the studio has not disclosed the role Arnett will play.
