Tony Gilroy’s 'Behemoth' Saved by Pascal Lunch — SkimNews
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- Tony Gilroy rehearsed a farewell speech for his crew before meeting Pedro Pascal, expecting to cancel 'Behemoth!' after Oscar Isaac exited due to scheduling conflicts with 'Frankenstein' and awards season.
- Pedro Pascal committed to playing the lead role of cellist Alex Serian within hours of meeting Gilroy, began cello lessons the next day, and became central to the film’s emotional and narrative core.
- 'Behemoth!' takes place in fractured time and centers on a musician returning to Los Angeles after 20 years, exploring themes Gilroy calls 'new varieties of loneliness' amid family, art, and industry change.
- Nine composers, including Michael Giacchino, James Newton Howard, and Henry Jackman, formed the 'Behemoth! Collective' under identical terms: equal pay, alphabetical billing, shared publishing, and no individual poster credits.
- Searchlight Pictures will release 'Behemoth!' in theaters on December 4, positioning it as a major Oscar contender, particularly for Pedro Pascal’s performance and the film’s ensemble music work.
- The production required 303 union musicians, filmed exclusively in Los Angeles, and incurred fringe costs comparable to the total budget of 'Nightcrawler,' making financing exceptionally difficult.
Why it matters: Gilroy’s insistence on authenticity—shooting in L.A. with union musicians and equitable composer deals—raised costs significantly, but created a rare adult-driven awards contender in an era dominated by franchises, giving performers like Pascal and behind-the-scenes artists a high-profile platform with tangible recognition built into the contract terms.
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