Isn’t it a bit concerning that Ruben Östlund’s “The Entertainment System Is Down,” which started production in late 2024 and was thought to be in the editing stages, is now shooting new scenes?
That’s what Östlund is telling THR. He continues to tweak the film, including upcoming reshoots featuring “Succession” star Nicholas Braun. He’s headed to Amsterdam for the new scenes because he came up with a “really great idea” during editing.
The Swedish filmmaker says the sheer volume of footage shot during production has complicated the editing process. “I could just become completely mad and never stop editing the film.”
He does not expect “The Entertainment System Is Down” to be finished before the end of the year.
Östlund actually bought a retired Boeing 747, which was used as the main set for the film. The plot takes place on a long-haul flight whose entertainment system loses power as passengers become “modern human beings that have to deal with boredom and their own thoughts.”
“The Entertainment System Is Down” stars Kirsten Dunst, Daniel Brühl, Keanu Reeves, Nicholas Braun, Samantha Morton, and Tobias Menzies. After a competitive bidding war, A24 acquired the film in 2024.
It must be great being Östlund: he turned 52 this year and already has two Palme d’Or wins to his name (“The Square” and “Triangle of Sadness”), and two years ago completed a stint as jury president for the 76th Cannes Film Festival. Not just that, he’s currently shooting a documentary about his quest to get a third Palme d’Or.