Tony Gilroy Premiered Behemoth! at New York Film Festival
Director Tony Gilroy unveiled his latest feature film following his work on the Star Wars series Andor.
Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Science Fiction
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Director Tony Gilroy premiered his new film Behemoth! at the New York Film Festival on October 6, 2026. The project marks his return to feature directing after a 14-year hiatus.
Why it matters
The release is a significant milestone for Gilroy, who spent the last 6 years showrunning the Disney+ series Andor. He also clarified during the event that Disney never restricted his public discussions regarding fascism during his time with the series.
Gilroy utilized a collective of nine different composers to create the film's score. The production also required lead actor Pedro Pascal to learn the cello to perform scenes on camera.
The players
Tony Gilroy
He is a filmmaker who served as the showrunner for two seasons of the Disney+ series Andor.
Pedro Pascal
He is an actor who stars as a cellist in the film Behemoth! after replacing Oscar Isaac.
Oscar Isaac
He is an actor who was originally cast in the film but left the production due to schedule conflicts.
The details
Behemoth! stars Pedro Pascal, who took over the role of a cellist after Oscar Isaac departed due to scheduling conflicts. The film is set in Los Angeles and represents a major shift for the director, who focused exclusively on television production for the better part of a decade.
Timeline
October 6, 2026: Tony Gilroy participated in a live podcast at the New York Film Festival.
Industry Dynamics
Gilroy's return to feature filmmaking highlights the common industry trend of creators moving between major streaming franchises and auteur-driven projects. This release follows a long hiatus from theatrical work, contrasting sharply with his recent multi-year commitment to the Disney+ series Andor.
Fans of Gilroy's recent television work can expect a change in scope and tone with his return to feature films. Moviegoers can track theatrical release updates to see how the project is distributed following its festival debut.
The takeaway
Gilroy's move away from television illustrates how even high-profile showrunners eventually pivot back to the theatrical model. Pascal's hands-on approach to learning the cello serves as a reminder of the intensive preparation often required for specialized character roles.
Further reading
For more on the latest developments in genre filmmaking, visit Science Fiction.
Source note: This article includes information reported by IndieWire.
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