Every year at Austin’s South by Southwest festival (SXSW), a lucky few get to see some of the coolest upcoming films, TV shows, and games. It’s a geek culture barometer for the year or two ahead, a sampling of what’s gonna knock everyone’s socks off. This year’s SXSW starts on March 11, and if you’re attending, here are the five film and TV premieres we think you absolutely shouldn’t miss!
Don’t Think Twice
After his directing debut Sleepwalk With Me won critics over in 2012, comedian Mike Birbiglia is back behind (and in front of) the camera for his newest dramedy. Don’t Think Twice is about an improv troupe whose lives are thrown into chaos when they lose a member to bigger showbiz… and lose the lease on their theater. The film also stars Keegan-Michael Key, Gillian Jacobs, Kate Micucci, Tami Sagher, and Chris Gethard.
With a cast like this and the kind of promise we saw in Sleepwalk With Me, this should be a high priority for any SXSW attendee.
Everybody Wants Some
“The spiritual sequel to Dazed and Confused.” Those are the words being thrown around about Richard Linklater’s latest flick, and after seeing the trailer I believe those words to be true. Check it out!
Everybody Wants Some stars Will Brittain, Zoey Deutch, Ryan Guzman, Tyler Hoechlin, Blake Jenner, J. Quinton Johnson, Glen Powell, and Wyatt Russell as a group of college pals in 1980 just partyin’ through the last weekend of summer. That may not sound like much, but Dazed and Confused has a similar low-conflict setup and a magic that we can only hope has been recaptured.
Pee-wee’s Big Holiday
He’s back! After returning to the stage in 2009, Pee-wee Herman has returned to the silver screen for the first time since 1985. Big Holiday is pretty much what it sounds like: Pee-wee goes on his first holiday ever after being inspired by a meeting a mysterious stranger (Joe Manganiello). The film was written by star Paul Reubens and Paul Rust, and was directed by Wonder Showzen co-creator John Lee. The film will arrive on Netflix on March 18, after its SXSW premiere, and you can bet your little red bow tie that
Outcast Pilot
Directed by Adam Wingard (the upcoming Death Note film) and written Robert Kirkman (The Walking Dead), this first episode of the upcoming Kirkman adaptation will surely turn heads at this year. For those unfamiliar with the comic series, it’s a supernatural horror about a man named Kyle Barnes (to be played by Patrick Fugit), whose family and friends have long suffered from demonic possession. Now, with the help of Reverend Anderson (Philip Glenister), he’s going to try to find out why. The show will air on Cinemax later this year. Check out the trailer below, but just as a warning: It’s pretty freaky.
Preacher Pilot
AMC’s highly anticipated adaptation of the classic Vertigo comic is finally arriving! Directed by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, this pilot episode will introduce us to the twisted Texan life of preacher Jesse Custer (Dominic Cooper), who along with his ex-girlfriend Tulip (Ruth Negga) and a vampire named Cassidy (Joseph Gilgun) will try to help those who need it, and hurt those who deserve it. The trailer below is great, but I’d call it NSFW.
If this trailer is any indication, we’re in for a treat. Rogen and Goldberg have proven themselves talented directors with their biblical apocalypse comedy This is the End, and we know they have an appreciation for the dark twisted humor of the comic.
SXSW 2016 runs from March 11-20, right in the heart of Austin, TX. For the full line-up of events, visit the festival website.
Would you like to be part of the Fandom team? Join our Fan Contributor Program and share your voice on Fandom.com!