“Widows” has snatched the coveted opening slot at the BFI London Film Festival, Variety confirms. Starring Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez (“The Fast and the Furious” franchise), Elizabeth Debicki (“The Night Manager”), and Cynthia Erivo’s (“Mr Selfridge”), the Chicago-set heist thriller follows the wives of a gang of armed robbers. When their husbands lose their lives after a job turns bad, the women are forced to figure out a way to pay the men’s debt to their crime bosses. The foursome decide to take over their late husbands’ business and steal the money they need to make good.
Based on a 1980s miniseries from Lynda La Plante, the pic marks Steve McQueen’s follow-up to “12 Years a Slave.” He penned the script with “Gone Girl” screenwriter and author Gillian Flynn.
“Widows'” supporting cast includes Liam Neeson, Colin Farrell, Robert DuVall, “Get Out” breakout Daniel Kaluuya, Jacki Weaver (“Silver Linings Playbook”), and Brian Tyree Henry (“Atlanta”).
“I am absolutely delighted that ‘Widows’ will be opening this year’s BFI London Film Festival,” McQueen said. “Watching the U.K. TV version of Lynda La Plante’s original thriller as a teenager in the ’80s had a major impact on me, and so it feels very special to be sharing this film with a U.K. audience.”
“We treasure the work of BFI fellow and festival alumni Steve McQueen, so it’s an utter pleasure to open our festival with the international premiere of ‘Widows,’” Tuttle said. “This is scintillatingly rich storytelling from a magnificent filmmaker, probing issues around race, class, and gender, while always delivering immense style and crackingly sharp thrills.”
Davis won an Oscar this year for “Fences.” She previously received nods for “The Help” and “Doubt.”
“Widows” is slated to make its international debut at the fest on October 10 and will hit U.S. theaters November 16. The 62nd annual BFI London Film Festival runs from October 10-21.
