What do you get when you put multiple Oscar winners and nominees in a room? My Darling California, apparently.
A film with this kind of cast doesn’t come around often. My Darling California is the next project from writer-director Elijah Bynum, and it's bringing together some of Hollywood’s most magnetic names — Jessica Chastain, Josh Brolin, Chris Pine, Mikey Madison, Don Cheadle and Charles Melton — for what’s being called one of the hottest projects on the market.
What is it about?
Set in Los Angeles, My Darling California is a dark comic crime thriller that traces how one single act ripples through the lives of six people: a TV host, his disenchanted wife, a country music idol, two small-time crooks, and an ex-con. Each character is caught between failure and the fragile hope of reinvention — their stories entwining in a city that promises everything and delivers chaos instead.
Who’s behind it?
Besides the genuinely impeccable cast, there's also an incredible creative team involved. The film is being written and directed by Elijah Bynum, whose Magazine Dreams and Hot Summer Nights cemented him as a filmmaker to take note of. On board to produce is David Hinojosa of 2AM (who most recently worked on Materialists), and Zach Nutman executiy producing. Behind the camera, Bynum has assembled cinematographer Chayse Irvin (BlacKkKlansman), editor Leslie Jones (The Master), production designer Judy Becker (The Brutalist), and costume designer Erin Benach (Drive).
When to expect it
Production on My Darling California is set to begin in 2026, with the project already drawing significant attention in the global film market. Several cast members are already attached to other major productions currently in progress, including Madison's involvement in The Social Network sequel, and Melton's lead role in Beef season two. Carving out time to film will likely be one of the biggest challenges this project faces.
There’s no official release date yet, but anticipation is building — and with a cast and crew of this calibre, the film is naturally going to become a major cinematic event. Watch this space.
