The Coen Brothers' latest project has been shrouded in mystery. There were few details for a long time for this western that started out as an anthology series for Netflix. Now, after reports that it had become a surprise movie, Netflix has now shared the trailer for what it's calling "a six-part Western anthology film," a series of tales about the American frontier where "each chapter tells a distinct story about the American West."
Despite the confusion about what the project actually was, the Coens managed to jam all the episodes into one screening before the Venice Film Festival, where it ended up winning a Best Screenplay award.
The film James Franco, Liam Neeson, Zoe Kazan, Tom Waits, and Tim Blake Nelson as the titular character.
“We’ve always loved anthology movies, especially those films made in Italy in the Sixties which set side-by-side the work of different directors on a common theme,” the Coens said in a statement ahead of the Venice Film Festival, where it premiered. “Having written an anthology of Western stories we attempted to do the same, hoping to enlist the best directors working today. It was our great fortune that they both agreed to participate.”
The film debuts on Netflix and in select theaters on November 16.
Matt Miller is a Brooklyn-based culture/lifestyle writer and music critic whose work has appeared in Esquire, Forbes, The Denver Post, and documentaries.
