After an underwhelming theatrical run and a series of bad reviews, the movie is now headed to streaming. Per Deadline, After the Hunt will premiere on Prime Video on Nov. 20.
Filmmaker Luca Guadagnino has helmed multiple critically acclaimed films, from 2017’s Call Me by Your Name, the cannibal film Bones and All, 2024’s Challengers, as well as Queer. There were high expectations for his new directorial effort, especially as it featured a star-studded cast led by Roberts and Andrew Garfield.
The film’s official synopsis reads, “A college professor finds herself at a personal and professional crossroads when a star student levels an accusation against one of her colleagues, threatening to expose a dark secret from her own past.”
The R-rated movie had its world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival, and it wasn’t a success. It debuted to underwhelming reactions, which ended up leading to a wider controversy about the message in a post-#MeToo era.
After the Hunt later headed to theaters on Oct. 10 with a limited release before expanding to a wide release. Produced on a budget between $70 million and $80 million, the movie only grossed $6 million worldwide, per Deadline.
After the Hunt tackles serious themes about a #MeToo-like situation where a student accuses a philosophy professor of sexual assault. However, the film ending plays it too safe and leaves viewers to come up with their own conclusions.
Speaking about After the Hunt‘s ending, Guadagnino argued, “For me, the answer is always in the eyes of the audience. How can I let an audience find their own footing on something if I preemptively decide what’s the truth of things?”
Luca Guadagnino Will Reunite With Andrew Garfield on a New Project
After the Hunt didn’t land the way he intended. The film led to Guadagnino’s first negative score in his entire filmography as a director, especially after the success of Challengers. However, Guadagnino is already moving on, and has multiple projects in development. One of them reunites him with Garfield.
The upcoming biopic Artificial will feature Garfield as OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and will follow his controversial firing and rehiring. The biopic’s cast also includes Monica Barbaro, Yura Borisov, Cooper Koch, Cooper Hoffman, Ike Barinholtz, and Jason Schwartzman.
