It was announced this late afternoon that Ethan Coen’s “Drive-Away Dolls” will open on Sept. 22. Focus Features and Working Title are behind this comedy caper.
Written by Coen and Tricia Cooke, “Drive-Away Dolls” was originally titled “Drive-Away Dykes,” but there was no way that title would have passed the smell test.
We do have a synopsis:
[The film] follows Jamie, an uninhibited free spirit bemoaning yet another breakup with a girlfriend, and her demure friend Marian who desperately needs to loosen up. In search of a fresh start, the two embark on an impromptu road trip to Tallahassee, but things quickly go awry when they cross paths with a group of inept criminals along the way.
The cast assembled for Coen’s film is great: Margaret Qualley, Geraldine Viswanathan, Beanie Feldstein, Pedro Pascal, Colman Domingo, Bill Camp and Matt Damon.
Last fall, Oscar Nominated Cinematographer Ari Wegner (The Power of the Dog) joined Coen's solo debut.
The film is Coen's first directorial effort without brother Joel, and his first film without DPs Deakins or Delbonnel. Ethan co-wrote the upcoming film with his wife Cooke. Production on the film began in early September and wrapped in late October/early November.
Coen and Cooke initially wrote the screenplay in the mid-2000s, which is said to be a “Russ Meyer-inspired romp” that was initially supposed to be directed by Allison Anders (“Gas Food Lodging”).
Joel and Ethan’s last film together was the 2018 anthology western “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs.”