Most of us won't be able to see Gone Girl, the latest film from director David Fincher, until it hits theaters in early October, but now word has come down exactly when the first audience will get to see it. News has come down that the movie is now scheduled to be the opening night feature for the fall's New York Film Festival.
As The Wrap notes in their write-up, those who actually see the movie at the premiere actually won't be getting that big a jump on regular audiences. This year, the New York Film Festival will be running from September 26th through October 12th, which positions Gone Girl's debut exactly one week before its theatrical release. This will be the second Fincher film that has gotten the spotlight treatment as the opening title of NYFF, as The Social Network had the same honor back in 2010.
Rather than giving audiences just a special early look at the film, 20th Century Fox is clearly planning the festival premiere as the launching point for the movie's award season campaign that will likely stretch into 2015. David Fincher has come closer to Oscar gold twice, having been nominated for Best Director for both The Social Network and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. From what we can tell from all the marketing materials thus far, however, Gone Girl could very well end up being number three.
Based on the hit book by Gillian Flynn (and based on an adapted screenplay she wrote), Gone Girl begins on the fifth wedding anniversary of Nick and Amy Dunne, a couple that has been on the rocks for a few years. While the day starts out hopeful, things take a tragic turn when Nick comes how to find a crime scene and his wife missing. Because Amy was the subject of popular children's book line when she was a kid, it doesn't take long for the mainstream media to pick up the story, and before long all of the fingers are pointing at Nick. But did Nick actually murder his wife? And if he didn't, who did? Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike lead the film playing Nick and Amy, but the excellent supporting cast includes Neil Patrick Harris, Patrick Fugit, Missi Pyle, Sela Ward, Scoot McNairy, Emily Ratajkowski, Tyler Perry, Casey Wilson and Kim Dickens.
Following its New York Film Festival premiere, Gone Girl will be in theaters on October 3rd.
