January 21, 2025

Serenity (2019)

1 hour 16 minutes

We're taking a look at one of the most widely panned films of 2019, Steven Knight's misbegotten noir Serenity!

Join in as we discuss this reunion of Anne Hathaway and Matthew McConaughey, the yearslong political scandal it caused, the ignominious collapse of Aviron Pictures, and the various games on Plymouth Island.

Plus: Why did this movie receive such little marketing? How old are Karen and Baker Dill supposed to be? Did Jeremy Strong go method for his role as The Rules? And, most importantly, what was that kid thinking when he set all of this up?

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Next week: Bedazzled (2000)

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Key links and sources for this episode:

Jude Dry's review of Serenity in IndieWire

Deadline story about the creation of Aviron Pictures

2020 LA Times story about the fraud cases against Aviron founder William Sadleir

2019 Deadline story about the stars' frustration with the Serenity marketing campaign

Rundown of the Serenitygate scandal in Mauritius

Accusations of censorship in Mauritius related to Serenitygate

Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth's defense in the Serenitygate scandal

2019 study on the impact of video games on stress