Jordan Peele’s “Us” will be the opening night film at the 2019 SXSW Film Festival, South by Southwest Conference and Festivals announced on Tuesday.
The thriller will have its world premiere on March 8 in Austin, Texas. It’s Peele’s follow-up to his 2017 directorial debut “Get Out,” a breakout hit that earned him an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
“We are crazy excited to world premiere the most anticipated film of 2019 from the creative powerhouse that brought us ‘Get Out,’” SXSW director of film Janet Pierson said in a statement. “We honestly couldn’t imagine a more perfect film to kick off the 2019 SXSW Film Festival.”
“Us” stars Lupita Nyong’o and fellow “Black Panther” star Winston Duke as a married couple who take a trip to a Northern California summer beach home along with their children, and meet another couple portrayed by Elisabeth Moss and comedian Tim Heidecker.
Nyong’o slowly becomes paranoid about her children’s safety, and as she becomes more concerned, they witness four figures in red suits holding hands at the end of their driveway. Those figures aren’t just anyone, but exact replicas of themselves.
Peele, who wrote and directed the film, also produces for his Monkeypaw Productions banner, alongside Monkeypaw creative director Ian Cooper. Sean McKittrick and Jason Blum are also producing.
“Us” opens in theaters on March 15, 2019. SXSW will release its full feature slate on January 16. This year’s festival will take place from March 8 to March 17.