"After the Hunt" Trailer: Julia Roberts, Andrew Garfield, and Ayo Edebiri Face Truth, Power, and Accusation in Luca Guadagnino’s New Thriller
Secrets, suspicion, and status collide in this new Ivy League thriller about reputation, loyalty, and the fallout of one accusation that changes everything.
Not much has been said about Luca Guadagnino’s ability to attach himself to a film project and see it through in rather extraordinary fashion. Since making his breakthrough with 2017's Call Me by Your Name, Guadagnino has become a prolific filmmaker, unafraid to shift between genres and tones with each new project.
The Italian director will be returning later this year with his latest film—his fifth in eight years—following the critical success of Call Me by Your Name and 2024's Challengers. And while he has tackled the boundary-pushing themes of forbidden love, a toxic love triangle, and even contemporary dancing witches (2018's Suspiria remake), teen cannibals (2022's Bones and All), and drunk-fueled obsession (2024's Queer), one thing’s for sure: Guadagnino is not someone who likes to repeat himself, nor be tied to any single genre.
With After the Hunt, his latest film coming out in October, Guadagnino has once again attracted an impressive all-star cast—one led by Oscar-winning superstar Julia Roberts, two-time Oscar nominee Andrew Garfield, and rising talent Ayo Edebiri, the Emmy-winning breakout of The Bear.
Now, one might assume this is yet another toxic triangle scenario, where clashing egos, simmering desires, and buried secrets slowly collide into a maelstrom of betrayal, obsession, and emotional wreckage. But knowing Guadagnino, there’s likely more lurking beneath the surface than meets the eye.
And judging from the movie’s first official trailer (watch it above), the story aims to tackle hot-button issues of public accusations, intense scrutiny, and the lingering aura of cancellation in the aftermath of the Me Too era—a time where “being comfortable” is expected, but not always guaranteed.
Set on the grounds of a prestigious Ivy League university, the film sees Julia Roberts as Alma Olsson, a renowned college philosophy professor whose reputation is as formidable as her intellect—and as carefully constructed as her own self-image. Considered a superstar on campus, Alma has attracted a tight circle of intellectuals, teachers, and students who are much more her admirers than her peers. At least, she has meticulously built it to appear that way.
During one of her many soirées, Alma introduces a colleague—fellow professor Hank (played by Andrew Garfield)—to one of her star pupils, Maggie (Ayo Edebiri). After a spirited debate between Hank and Maggie on their respective generational differences, a certain tension lingers in the air—one that will soon threaten to unravel everything Alma has so carefully built and fiercely protected.
Alma will soon find herself at the center of a shocking accusation—one that puts her close friend Hank directly on the hot seat, as he’s forced to defend himself against allegations of inappropriate behavior made by Maggie. And in a new era where mere accusations can be weaponized and public opinion often outweighs due process, Alma is forced to navigate a minefield of loyalty, ethics, and self-preservation.
Who will Alma side with?
Hank, who claims the accusations are baseless—or Maggie, who swears she’s telling the truth and refuses to be silenced?
Perhaps the bigger question is: when dealing with the court of public opinion, is truth the last thing anyone really cares about... especially when reputation is on the line and careers hang in the balance?
Written by newcomer Nora Garrett and produced by Hollywood vet Brian Grazer, the film also stars Michael Stuhlbarg and Chloë Sevigny.
Oscar-winning musicians Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, who previously worked with Guadagnino—most notably on the high-tempo, techno-infused score for Challengers—will again provide the original score for Guadagnino’s new film.
After the Hunt is slated to open in select theaters on October 10th before expanding nationwide on October 17th.
Official Synopsis:
From visionary filmmaker Luca Guadagnino, AFTER THE HUNT is a gripping psychological drama about a college professor (Julia Roberts) who finds herself at a personal and professional crossroads when a star student (Ayo Edebiri) levels an accusation against one of her colleagues (Andrew Garfield), and a dark secret from her own past threatens to come into the light. AFTER THE HUNT is written by Nora Garrett.