THELMA Trailer (2024) June Squibb, Parker Posey

THELMA Trailer (2024) June Squibb, Parker Posey

THELMA Trailer (2024) June Squibb, Parker Posey
© 2024 - Magnolia Pictures

From Harrison Ford to Tom Cruise, Hollywood stars have become increasingly comfortable performing stunts in the later stages of their careers. But June Squibb might have set a new standard when she took on the lead role in “Thelma” and did the bulk of her own stunt work at the age of 93.

Josh Margolin’s directorial debut, which is loosely based on a true story about his own grandmother, stars Squibb as a nonagenarian who falls victim to a phone scammer pretending to be her grandson. The injustice inspires her to hop on her motorized scooter and travel across Los Angeles to take down the thief and reclaim her lost funds. The result is an action movie that promises to show audiences that it’s never too late to reclaim agency over your own life.

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In addition to Squibb, “Thelma” also features “Shaft” star Richard Roundtree in his final film performance. Fred Hechinger, Parker Posey, Clark Gregg, and Malcolm McDowell round out the supporting cast.

“Thelma” premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, where many critics praised Squibb’s willingness to embody her first leading role with so much life.

“Margolin and Squibb deftly explore that surprisingly complicated emotional tension, bringing to life a woman not yet ready to debate every tactical move she makes with the cadre back at headquarters. Simultaneously fragile and fearsome, the 94-year-old actress (she’s had a birthday since filming!) remains as enchanting and spunky as she was in 2013’s ‘Nebraska,'” IndieWire’s Alison Foreman wrote in her Sundance review of the film. “Her chemistry with Roundtree is platonic but contagious, and while your take on the scene in question might vary, there is a read of this film that sees Squibb getting seriously flirty with Malcolm McDowell, whose role is a surprise.”

During a visit to the IndieWire Studio at Sundance, Margolis spoke to IndieWire’s Brian Welk about being pleasantly surprised by Squibb’s willingness to perform her own stunts as the shoot progressed.

“At the beginning of the process, I wanted there to be a sense of reality, but we had a stunt team and we were gonna try to be creative about it,” Margolis said. “But as the shoot went on, June wanted to do more and more of these stunts. Little by little, we started figuring out where that line was and trusting her to do more and more. And she ended up doing quite a bit of it by the end. She kept setting the tone of being a pro, and I think it brought out the best in everyone.”

Magnolia Pictures will release “Thelma” in theaters on Friday, June 21. Watch the trailer below.
Watch out, Tom Cruise. There's a new action-movie star in town.
June Squibb, 94, plays an ass-kicking vengeance-seeker inspired by Cruise’s Mission: Impossible movies in the comedy Thelma.

PEOPLE has the exclusive first trailer, which features Squibb executing heists to obtain a weapon, making things explode, and driving a scooter at top speeds.

“I was so proud of myself doing this,” the Nebraska Oscar nominee told PEOPLE in January at the movie's Sundance Film Festival premiere. “The scooter was great fun — it was a joy to be on that.”
Squibb plays Thelma’s "unlikely action hero," a synopsis states, a "feisty 93-year-old grandmother who gets conned by a phone scammer pretending to be her grandson.”

June Squibb Has Her First Lead Role at 94 — and Does Her Own Stunts Too: 'I Was So Proud of Myself' (Exclusive)
THELMA (l) June Squibb (r) Fred Hechinger
June Squibb and Fred Hechinger in 'Thelma'. DAVID BOLEN
Playing her grandson is Fred Hechinger (The White Lotus), who in the trailer calls Thelma “a tough cookie."

Malcolm McDowell and Nicole Byer also star, while Parker Posey and Clark Gregg play Hechinger’s onscreen parents. They panic after Thelma is scammed out of $10,000 — and when she becomes determined to elude them in recovering the cash by any dangerous means necessary.

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Thelma also stars Richard Roundtree as Thelma’s friend and accomplice Ben, one of his last roles before his October 2023 death. The Shaft star “gives such a beautiful performance in the movie,” writer-director Josh Margolin tells PEOPLE.

June Squibb in Thelma Trailer
Richard Roundtree and June Squibb in 'Thelma'. MAGNOLIA PICTURES
“We set out to make something human and relatable but also kind of insane — a nonagenarian on a perilous mission across the city (on foot and on scooter) to reclaim what was taken from her, against all odds,” continues the filmmaker, who based the character of Thelma off of his own 103-year-old grandmother.

“It’s a celebration and play on the action genre as well as a way to explore aging and autonomy.”

Summer Movie Preview 2024: Beverly Hills Cop, Twisters and Dozens More Must-See Films
Squibb, in her first leading film role after decades of scene-stealing performances, “gives Tom Cruise a run for his money,” adds Margolin. With stunt coordinator Ryan Sturz, the actress did more of her own stunts “than we ever thought she would!”
THELMA (l) Richard Roundtree (r) June Squibb
Richard Roundtree and June Squibb in 'Thelma'. DAVID BOLEN
Also on Squibb’s busy schedule as a movie star this year are Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead, voicing the emotion Nostalgia in Inside Out 2, and Scarlett Johansson’s directorial debut Eleanor the Great.

Thelma is in theaters June 21.
Magnolia Pictures has released a brand new trailer for "Thelma." This film may not be on your radar just yet, but after watching this trailer, it probably should be. Serving as the feature directorial debut of Josh Margolin, the big hook here is that Oscar-nominee June Squibb ("Nebraska," "In & Out") is getting to lead a revenge thriller at the age of 94. More than that, it marks the first time that Squibb has been given a leading role in a movie in her long, storied career. Check the trailer out for yourself above.

The trailer is impossibly charming, even though there is an insidious plot at the center of it all. Squibb's character gets scammed out of a bunch of money and, with no options left, she sets out on a path of revenge. It's not unrealistically action-packed or anything like that, but it comes off as quite delightful. Squibb is paired with the late Richard Roundtree, best known for his work on "Shaft." This marks his final film role, adding another must-see layer to the proceedings. The synopsis for the film reads as follows:

Squibb, who did most of her own stunts in the film, plays Thelma Post, a feisty 93-year-old grandmother who gets conned by a phone scammer pretending to be her grandson (Fred Hechinger) and sets out on a treacherous quest across Los Angeles, accompanied by an aging friend (Roundtree) and his motorized scooter, to reclaim what was taken from her.

The film was inspired by a real-life experience of Margolin's own grandmother, with the producers promising a "clever spin on movies like 'Mission: Impossible.'" /Film's Ben Pearson called "Thelma" a "sweet, charming, and uplifting" movie in his review out of Sundance, adding that it "is a joy to watch."

A Hollywood legend (finally) gets her due in Thelma
Magnolia Pictures
Squibb has been a working actor for a long, long time. She's had a 70-year career, with her IMDB credits going back as far as the mid-'80s. With more than 100 credits to her name, she's done everything from soap operas such as "The Young and the Reckless" to playing Adam Sandler's mom in "Hubie Halloween." Squibb was even nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Oscars for her work in "Nebraska" alongside Bruce Dern. Much like Dern was finally given the chance to take the lead in that film after a decades-long career, Squibb is finally getting her shot here.

The cast also includes Fred Hechinger ("The Woman in the Window"), Parker Posey ("Lost in Space"), Clark Gregg (Marvel's "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D."), and Malcolm McDowell ("A Clockwork Orange"). Margolin penned the screenplay in addition to his duties as director. Zoe Worth, Chris Kaye, Nicholas Weinstock, Benjamin Simpson, Karl Spoerri, and Viviana Vezzani are on board as producers, with Squibb, Hechinger, and Tobias Gutzwiller serving as executive producers.

"Thelma" is set to hit theaters on June 21, 2024.
The first official trailer for the comedy film Thelma has been released. The film stars June Squibb, Fred Hechinger, Richard Roundtree, Parker Posey, Clark Gregg, Nicole Byer, and Malcolm McDowell.

When 93-year-old grandma Thelma Post (June Squibb) gets scammed out of $10,000 by someone pretending to be her grandson Daniel (Fred Hechinger), Daniel’s parents, Alan (Clark Gregg) and Gail (Parker Posey), can’t help but panic. Thelma becomes determined to get the money back by any means necessary, no matter how dangerous.

On her journey to recover the money, she is joined by her friend and partner in crime, Ben (Richard Roundtree). This was one of Roundtree’s last films before his untimely death in 2023. Nicole Byer and Malcolm McDowell join the cast as Rochelle and Harvey, respectively.

In the trailer, Thelma gets a call from someone she believes is her grandson, saying he’s in jail and needs $10,000. He instructs her to send her money to a specific address, and she begins gathering all her hidden money. After she sends the money, her daughter Gail, son-in-law Alan, and grandson Daniel tell her it is a scam and take her to the police. The police can’t do anything to help her get her money back, so she enlists the help of her friend Ben and her trusty scooter to get her money back.

The first official trailer for the comedy film Thelma has been released. The film stars June Squibb, Fred Hechinger, Richard Roundtree, Parker Posey, Clark Gregg, Nicole Byer, and Malcolm McDowell.
YouTube
This role was 94-year-old Squibb’s first leading role. She is also working on Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead as Mrs. Sturak, voicing the emotion of Nostalgia in Inside Out 2, and Scarlett Johansson’s directorial debut Eleanor the Great as Eleanor Morgenstein.
"This summer - action has a new name." Magnolia Pictures has unveiled a very short teaser trailer for the Sundance 2024 hit film Thelma, from writer / director Josh Margolin. The film didn't win any awards, but it did win over the hearts of many Sundance viewers as one of the best of the fest (I wrote a glowing review of it, too). Inspired by a real-life experience of Margolin's own grandmother, Thelma puts a clever spin on movies like Mission: Impossible, shining the spotlight on an elderly grandmother as an unlikely action hero. Yes, she kicks some serious ass. With infectious humor, Margolin employs the familiar tropes of the action genre in hilarious, age-appropriate ways to tackle aging with agency. In the first leading film role of her 70-year career, June Squibb portrays the strong-willed Thelma with grit and determination, demonstrating that she is more than capable of taking care of business. In addition to Squibb kicking butt as Thelma, this also stars Fred Hechinger, Parker Posey, Clark Gregg, Malcolm McDowell, along with Richard Roundtree as her sidekick. This is a hilarious trailer and packs a punch despite being only 20 secs! Enjoy.

Here's the first look teaser trailer for Josh Margolin's Thelma, direct from Magnolia's YouTube:

Thelma Teaser Trailer

Thelma is a poignant action-comedy that gives veteran Oscar nominee June Squibb her first leading role and features the final performance of trailblazing actor Richard Roundtree. Squibb, who did most of her own stunts in the film, plays Thelma Post, a feisty 93-year-old grandmother who gets conned by a phone scammer pretending to be her grandson (Fred Hechinger) and sets out on a treacherous quest across Los Angeles, accompanied by an aging friend (Roundtree) and his motorized scooter, to reclaim what was taken from her. Thelma is written and directed by American actor / producer / editor / filmmaker Josh Margolin, making his feature directorial debut after one other short previously, and plenty of other film industry work. Produced by Chris Kaye, Benjamin Simpson, Karl Spoerri, Viviana Vezzani, Zoë Worth, and Nicholas Weinstock. This initially premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival earlier this year (read our review). Magnolia Pictures will debut Margolin's Thelma in select US theaters starting on June 21st, 2024.
Every year, the Miami Film Festival transforms the Florida city into a hub of cultural exchange and discovery, welcoming filmmakers, industry professionals and enthusiastic audiences for a celebration of independent films that entertain as well as inspire conversation.

As Miami-Dade College gears up for its 41st edition of the festival, cinema aficionados can expect an array of films, discussions, Q&A sessions, special events, and awards ceremonies from
April 5-14.

With more than 165 films — including feature narratives, documentaries and shorts from more than 31 countries — the carefully curated fest sports one of its biggest lineups ever, says Lauren Cohen, director of programming.

The festival kicks off with “Thelma,” a comedy about a grandmother’s quest to reclaim her lost money, directed by Josh Margolin and featuring a cast including June Squibb, “White Lotus” alum Fred Hechinger and Parker Posey. Tony Goldwyn’s “Ezra,” starring Bobby Cannavale, Rose Byrne, Vera Farmiga and Robert De Niro, will close the fest. “Ezra” centers on a stand-up comedian navigating co-parenting of his autistic son.

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“It’s a very powerful, dramatic and comic story, but at the same time, it’s a very important mirror that shows the way we look at ourselves and the way we look at those around us,” says Goldwyn, who will be present on April 13 for the screening and will receive the Art of Light Award.

Alison Brie, known for her work on TV series such as “Mad Men” and “Glow” in addition to starring and producing indie films, will also receive the Art of Light Award at the festival.

“It’s really exciting to think that they think that I’ve been putting out some unique works that are moving the needle forward in the film space,” says Brie of the recognition. The actor will also participate in an in-person discussion following a screening of her new Peacock miniseries, “Apples Never Fall.”

Variety will bestow honors upon Molly Ringwald and Tom Hiddleston for their career achievements at the festival. Ringwald will receive Variety’s Creative Vanguard Award on April 6, and Tom Hiddleston will receive Variety’s Virtuoso Award on April 9. Additionally, director Greg Kwedar will be presented with the Impact Award for his film “Sing Sing,” which illuminates the transformative power of art within the criminal justice system. There will also be a centerpiece screening of “The Idea of You,” directed by Michael Showalter and starring Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine.

The festival’s programming will highlight cultural diasporas, women in film, stories surrounding members of the LGBTQ+ community and people with special needs. It will also explore the rich cultural heritage of Cuban films with its Spotlight on Cuba, featuring films such as “Los Frikis.”

“It’s something that’s very important to Miami,” Cohen says about the Cuban story-based films.

Two “Drag Race” contestants will be on hand for the festival: Lady Camden, runner-up on Season 14, with their feature doc “Lady Like,” and Season 7 runner-up Ginger Minj with their short film “Stan Behavior.”

Also noteworthy: nearly 50% of the films in the feature lineup are directed by women.

“It just really speaks to how strong those films are, and our programming team honestly really gravitated towards so many of them, and that’s something we’re very proud of,” says Cohen.
2024 boasts top-notch action films with diverse styles, from martial arts to indie thrillers to explosive blockbusters.
At 94, June Squibb has finally landed her first lead role in the action-comedy film Thelma.
An unconventional action-comedy, Thelma boasts both hilarious and heartfelt takes on aging.
From Dev Patel's directorial debut Monkey Man and the Kristen Stewart-led Love Lies Bleeding to Jason Statham's action-packed The Beekeeper, 2024 has seen its fair share of top-notch action films. Not to mention, the year's best action movies run the gamut. Some are full of impressive martial arts and nuanced choreography, while others are indie thrillers or packed with explosions. Essentially, there's an action movie out there for every type of viewer, and enough record-setting blockbusters to inspire faith in summer 2024's slate of popcorn movies.

An unlikely competitor that's partly inspired by Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible...may be the year's best action-comedy movie.

Most recently, Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt's The Fall Guy received rave reviews for being a pitch-perfect action-comedy flick. Like the year's previous action-comedy releases — Argylle and Drive-Away Dolls are prime examples — Gosling's Fall Guy under-performed at the box office. While audiences may have enjoyed their time with the thrilling-yet-humorous Fall Guy, the film will face some steep competition come June. In fact, an unlikely competitor that's partly inspired by Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible, and led by a beloved 94-year-old actor, may be the year's best action-comedy movie.

Beloved Character Actor June Squibb Plays The Lead Role In Thelma
The 94-Year-Old Actor Even Performed Most Of Her Own Stunts
June Squibb as Thelma pointing to her computer screen in confusion as Fred Hechinger as Danny looks on in Thelma
Set to hit theaters on June 21, 2024, Thelma stars beloved character actor June Squibb in its titular role. An unconventional action-comedy flick, Thelma was written and directed by Josh Margolin, and based, in part, on the filmmaker's own grandmother. In the film, Squibb plays Thelma Post, a 93-year-old woman who's living on her own for the first time ever. Since her husband's passing, Thelma has been surrounded by family. As Thelma grapples with her shifting autonomy, her relationship with her down-on-his-luck grandson, Danny (White Lotus' Fred Hechinger), serves as the film's heart.

Using her social "invisibility" and grit, Thelma channels her inner Tom Cruise...

One afternoon, a frantic Thelma is duped by a phone scammer who pretends to be Danny. After she mistakenly sends the scammers thousands of dollars, Thelma enlists the help of her friend, Ben (the late Richard Roundtree), and his motorized scooter, and sets off across Los Angeles. Using her social "invisibility" and grit, Thelma channels her inner Tom Cruise to prove to her family that she's more than capable. A deft, heartfelt, and hilarious subversion of the action genre, Thelma has delighted on the festival circuit, from the Sundance Film Festival to the SFFILM Festival.

June Squibb and Fred Hechinger peer at the computer screen in Thelma
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What Else June Squibb Has Appeared In Before Thelma
The Actor Earned An Oscar Nomination For Nebraska
Although June Squibb began her acting career during the 1950s, she stuck to stage productions for decades. By the early 1990s, Squibb had transitioned to acting on the silver screen as well, landing parts in The Age of Innocence, Meet Joe Black, and Todd Haynes' Far from Heaven. The actor's breakout film role came in 2013 when she played Kate Grant in the black-and-white comedy-drama road film Nebraska, which was nominated for the Cannes Film Festival's Palme d'Or. Performing opposite Bruce Dern and Will Forte, Squibb was nominated for an Oscar in the Best Supporting Actress category.

Despite decades in show business, June Squibb has never been the lead actor in a film or TV show.

On television, Squibb has appeared in a variety of hit comedy and drama series, including HBO's Girls, Getting On, Grey's Anatomy, Shameless, Modern Family, and Good Girls. The Oscar-nominated actor has also lent her voice to several big-name animated films, like Ralph Breaks the Internet, Toy Story 4, Soul, and the upcoming Pixar movie Inside Out 2. Despite decades in show business, June Squibb has never been the lead actor in a film or TV show. Needless to say, the 94-year-old's starring turn in Thelma is exciting for many reasons.

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Thelma's 93-Year-Old Protagonist Uses Her Invisibility To Make A Crucial Point About Aging
Thelma Is Laugh-Out-Loud Funny Yet Deeply Poignant
June Squibb as Thelma looking determined on a motorized scooter in Thelma
In Thelma, the titular character's daughter Gail (Parker Posey) and son-in-law Alan (Clark Gregg) take the scam as evidence that Thelma shouldn't be in charge of her own life. More than anything, Squibb's character wants to enjoy living independently, though she still finds the whole thing strange. In grappling with how society views her — and her abilities — Thelma comes to realize how much she prizes her autonomy. Although the movie is incredibly funny, it's also deeply moving. By putting viewers in the title character's perspective, Thelma illustrates both her limits and her abilities, underscoring just how crucial it is to see the nuance in others' lived experiences.
Following its breakout as one of the more highly discussed titles of the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, nonagenarian action comedy Thelma, starring Oscar nominee June Squibb (Nebraska) in her first leading role, has been snapped up for North American distribution by Magnolia Pictures.

The deal came together following a competitive situation with multiple offers. Pic is slated for a wide theatrical release at a date still to be announced.

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Marking the feature directorial debut of Josh Margolin, who directed from his own script, Thelma stars Squibb as a feisty 93-year-old grandmother who gets conned by a phone scammer pretending to be her grandson (Fred Hechinger). In the aftermath, she sets out on a treacherous quest across Los Angeles, accompanied by an aging friend (Richard Roundtree) and his motorized scooter, to reclaim what was taken from her. The film features the final performance of Shaft icon Roundtree and co-stars Parker Posey, Clark Gregg, and Malcolm McDowell.

Inspired by a real-life experience of Margolin’s own grandmother, Thelma also remarkably had Squibb doing most of her own stunts, commanding the spotlight as an unlikely action hero. Pic was fully financed by SPG3 Pictures. Producers were Zoë Worth and Chris Kaye of Bandwagon, Nicholas Weinstock of Invention Studios, Benjamin Simpson, and Karl Spoerri and Viviana Vezzani of Zurich Avenue, with Kat Barnette as co-producer. Squibb and Hechinger exec produced alongside Tobias Gutzwiller, with CAA Media Finance repping the film for financing and worldwide sales.

“Brilliantly marrying Magnolia’s love of action, revenge, and grandmothers, Thelma is totally unique yet universally irresistible,” said the distributor’s co-CEOs Eamonn Bowles and Dori Begley. “The team at Magnolia is beyond excited to bring Josh Margolin’s thrilling and loving caper to audiences across the country.”

Added Margolin: “This has all been a dream come true — to get to make this movie, to premiere it at Sundance, and now to release it in theaters with Magnolia. I’ve admired their films for years and feel truly lucky to be partnering with them. We’re so excited to share Thelma.”

SVP of Acquisitions John Von Thaden negotiated the deal for Magnolia, with CAA Media Finance on behalf of the filmmakers.