Synopsis

After the unexpected death of her closest friend and mentor, New York novelist and writing teacher Iris becomes the caretaker of both his literary legacy and his beloved Great Dane, Apollo. Reluctantly bringing the enormous dog into her tiny Manhattan apartment, Iris develops a surprising kinship with the soulful animal—even though his outsized presence upends both her professional commitments and her daily routine. Together, the unlikely duo begins to move through their shared grief, tentatively embarking on a surprising path toward acceptance and healing.   Adapted from the National Book Award-winning novel by Sigrid Nunez, THE FRIEND stars Academy Award® nominee Naomi Watts (The Impossible), Academy Award® nominee Bill Murray (Lost in Translation), alongside Tony Award® nominee Sarah Pidgeon (Stereophonic), Constance Wu (Crazy Rich Asians), Emmy Award® winner Ann Dowd (The Handmaid’s Tale), Noma Dumezweni (The Little Mermaid), Felix Solis (Ozark), Owen Teague (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, Montana Story) and Carla Gugino (The Fall of the House of Usher).   Written and directed by award-winning filmmakers David Siegel and Scott McGehee (Montana Story, What Maisie Knew), THE FRIEND is also produced by McGehee and Siegel, Mike Spreter and Liza Chasin (The Lost City, Stillwater). Margaret Chernin and Watts serve as executive producers.