The official trailer for James Gray’s film, Armageddon Time, has been released and shares an autobiographical tale of life in New York City in the 1980s.
The drama stars Anne Hathaway and Jeremy Strong, who play husband and wife, Irving and Esther Graff — parents to two sons.
In the trailer, audiences see the friendship between one of their sons, Paul (Banks Repeta), and a Black classmate Johnny Crocker (Jaylin Webb).
Jeremy Strong as Irving Graff and Anne Hathaway as Esther Graff in director James Gray’s ARMAGEDDON TIME, a Focus Features release.
Courtesy of Focus Features Jeremy Strong and Anne Hathaway
The two are seen getting into trouble in school before Hathaway’s Esther tells her son he is not to “associate with him again.”
“What do you mean, why?” the young boy asks.
“I think you know what I mean,” his mother responds.
The boy is then sent to another school, the Kew-Forest School, where former President Donald Trump also attended as a 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥, Variety previously reported.
Jaylin Webb stars as Johnny Crocker and Michael Banks Repeta stars as Paul Graff in director James Gray’s ARMAGEDDON TIME, a Focus Features release.
Courtesy of Focus Features Jaylin Webb and Banks Repeta
The trailer briefly shows Jessica Chastian, in her role as Trump’s sister, Maryanne Trump, who served as a guest lecturer at the school, the outlet explained. She told the outlet that Chastain, 45, agreed to play a small part in the film only if her involvement was never formally announced. She also did the work for free.
Scenes from the trailer see the young boy speaking to his grandfather, portrayed by Anthony Hopkins, who tells Paul to stand up for his friend against the students in his new school who say “bad words against the Black kids.”
“You’re gonna be a mensch, okay?” Hopkins’ character tells his grandson.
The film, set to hit select theaters on October 28 before being released nationwide on November 11, is an autobiographical story written and directed by Gray about his own life, Deadline reported.
Michael Banks Repeta as “Paul Graff” and Anthony Hopkins as “Grandpa Aaron Rabinowitz” in director James Gray’s ARMAGEDDON TIME, a Focus Features release.
Anne Joyce/Focus Features Banks Repeta and Anthony Hopkins
The film is set specifically in Queens throughout a 2-3 month period where Gray — Paul, in the movie — bonds with Johnny as they are both “picked on” by a teacher, Deadline explained.
According to a statement from the studio, Focus Features, the film tells “a deeply personal story on the strength of family, the complexity of friendship, and the generational pursuit of the American Dream.”
Armageddon Time Poster Art
Courtesy of Focus Features
The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May before receiving a North American gala at the Telluride Film Festival earlier this month.
Armageddon Time will hit select theaters on October 28 before being released nationwide on November 11.