Ridham Vashishth
Naomi Watts, with her British-Australian roots, has been a shining star in the cinematic world for several years. Her magnetic performances, ranging from the mystifying ‘Mulholland Drive’ by David Lynch to the emotionally charged role in ‘The Impossible’, have left audiences spellbound. With a knack for diving deep into her characters, Watts has garnered widespread praise, including two Academy Award nominations.
Over the years, Watts has taken on diverse roles, from biopics like ‘Diana,’ where she played the iconic Princess of Wales, to thrillers like ‘Funny Games’ and dramas like ’21 Grams’. Her talent and dedication to her craft have solidified her place as one of the most respected actresses of her generation. For those who’ve been enchanted by the cinematic brilliance of Naomi Watts and are curious about her future endeavors, here’s an exclusive peek into the latest and upcoming movies and TV shows featuring Naomi Watts.
1. Emmanuelle (TBA)
‘Emmanuelle’ is an erotic drama directed by Audrey Diwan and co-written by Diwan and Rebecca Zlotowski. Based on Emmanuelle Arsan’s erotic novel of the same name, the film follows a woman who decides to explore her sexual fantasies. The novel’s previous adaptation was the 1974 film of the same name. The plot follows Emmanuelle (Noémie Merlant), a quality controller for a luxury hotel brand who arrives in Hong Kong to evaluate a hotel run by Margot (Naomi Watts), having been tasked with finding a good reason to sack her. While searching for a lost pleasure, she has numerous sensual experiences inside the hotel and crosses paths with a mysterious client named Kei (Will Sharpe), whom she becomes infatuated with. The rest of the cast includes Jamie Campbell Bower, Anthony Wong, and Chacha Huang. The film will be released on January 17, 2025. You can watch the trailer here.
2. The Watcher Season 2 (2025)
‘The Watcher’ is a mystery thriller series created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan. The series unravels the chilling tale of Nora and Dean Brannock, portrayed by Naomi Watts and Bobby Cannavale, respectively. After spending their life savings, the couple moved into their dream home in the suburbs. However, their dream soon turns into a nightmare when they start receiving eerie letters from an entity referring to itself as ‘The Watcher.’ These letters carry a sinister promise of keeping a constant vigil on the house and its inhabitants.
The plot thickens as the series delves into the mystery of identifying this ominous observer. In her role as Nora Brannock, Naomi Watts finds herself at the center of this psychological thriller, trying to protect her family from the looming threat. Alongside Watts and Cannavale, the series boasts a talented cast, including Mia Farrow, Terry Kinney, Henry Hunter Hall, Isabel Gravitt, Jennifer Coolidge, Christopher McDonald, and Luke David Blumm.
The narrative of ‘The Watcher’ is inspired by true events, based explicitly on a 2018 New York Magazine article titled ‘The Haunting of a Dream House’ by Reeves Wiedeman. This real-life story recounts the experiences of Maria and Derek Broaddus, who, after buying their dream home, were tormented by anonymous letters from ‘The Watcher.’ The series’ second season will premiere on Netflix in 2025. A particular date of release is awaited.
3. All’s Fair (2025)
Created by Jon Robin Baitz, Joe Baken, and Ryan Murphy, the 8-episode Hulu series follows a successful divorce lawyer and the owner of an all-female law firm in Los Angeles. Announced as a high-end, glossy, and sexy adult legal procedural, the series stars Watts alongside Sarah Paulson, Glenn Close, Kim Kardashian, Ed O’Neill,
Grace Gummer, Niecy Nash, and Teyana Taylor. It is in its filming phase and will be released in 2025. More details regarding the story and release date are awaited.
4. The Friend (2025)
‘The Friend’ is a canine drama directed by Scott McGehee and David Siegel. Based on the 2018 National Book Award for Fiction ‘The Friend’ by Sigrid Nunez and adapted by Scott McGehee and David Siegel, the film will explore grief, healing, love, and friendship by following a writer whose lifelong friend/mentor (Bill Murray) passes away, leaving behind his literary legacy and a heartbroken Great Dane named Apollo for her to take care of. There are also his three ex-wives that she will have to handle. As Iris finds herself unexpectedly bonding with the animal, she starts coming to terms with her past, her lost friend, and her own creative inner life. The cast includes Watts, Murray, Ann Dowd, Carla Gugino, Constance Wu, and Owen Teague. ‘The Friend’ had its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival and is slated for release in Q1 (reportedly March 21), 2025.
5. Harmonia (TBA)
Guy Nattiv’s upcoming mystery drama ‘Harmonia’ has roped in Watts, Bella Ramsey, Vicky Krieps, and Odessa Young. Co-written by Nattiv and Noa Berman-Herzberg, the film, set in the 1980s, is based on true events and shows Nattiv’s grandmother’s involvement in a dark and insidious cult. The plot follows Rita (Watts), who gives up her family life and joins the Harmonia commune. Her daughters, Ella (Ramsey) and Jo (Young) want to bring their mother back home and thus infiltrate the cult. However, they end up being manipulated/mesmerized by the enigmatic leader (presumably Vicky Krieps). Production of the film is ongoing, and we have yet to get a release date.
6. The Housewife (TBA)
This psychological drama, written by Alyssa Hill, is based on a true story that dates back to 1964 and follows a young New York Times journalist, to be played by Tye Sheridan, who manages to track down a Nazi officer living in Queens undercover. But when the journalist befriends the officer’s beautiful wife, to be played by Watts, his investigation faces unsettling compromises. The cast also includes Michael Imperioli and Norman Reedus. Helmed by Ben Shirinian, the film is in its pre-production stage. The release date is yet to be announced.
Read More: Is the Netflix’s The Watcher Based on a True Story?
