The Friend: Release date news, cast details and more about the upcoming drama adaptation starring Bill Murray

Naomi Watts and Bill Murray have joined hands for the indie film, The Friend. In the film, Watts is cast as a writer and teacher who is dealing with the pain of losing a friend (played by Bill Murray). Amidst the loss, she welcomes a new canine friend who helps her deal with the grief. The Friend was screened at the Toronto International Film Festival and the Telluride Film Festival in 2024, and is scheduled for U.S. release on March 28, 2025.

Watts and Murray star as close friends in New York whose bond is shattered upon the death of Murray's character, Walter. If dealing with his death isn't enough, Watts' character Iris gets the responsibility of adopting Walter's Great Dane, Apollo. She agrees to do so begrudgingly at first, but soon enough starts forming a bond with the pet.

What is the plot synopsis of The Friend?

The screenplay is by Scott McGehee David Siegel, who have also directed the film. The Friend has been adapted from Sigrid Nunez’s novel of the same name.

The synopsis of The Friend, according to What To Watch, is:

“In The Friend, writer and teacher Iris finds her comfortable, solitary New York life thrown into disarray after her closest friend and mentor dies suddenly and bequeaths her his beloved 150 lb. Great Dane. The regal yet intractable beast, named Apollo, immediately creates practical problems for Iris, from furniture destruction to eviction notices, as well as more existential ones, his looming presence constantly reminding her of her friend’s problematic choices in both life and death. Yet as Iris finds herself unexpectedly bonding with the animal, she begins to come to terms with her past, her lost friend, and her own creative inner life.”

Who is in the cast of The Friend?

The Friend unites Naomi Watts and Bill Murray after their success comedy drama of 2014, St. Vincent. Watts is known for her roles in films like the neo-noir suspense drama, Mulholland Drive, the horror film, The Ring, and Oscar-nominated 21 Grams. She has been nominated two times each for Best Actress at the Academy Awards and the Golden Globes. Her filmography mostly consists of indie tragic films.

Murray started his career as a writer for Saturday Night Live (SNL), for which he has won a Primetime Emmy Award. His acting career took off with a bunch of comedies like Meatballs, Kingpin, Osmosis Jones and the Ghostbusters franchise. Later, he did more serious roles in films such as The Grand Budapest Hotel, Isle Of Dogs and Lost In Translation, the latter of which fetched him an Academy Award nomination. He has also received a second Emmy for his role in HBO's Olive Kitteridge.

The Friend also features Sarah Pidgeon, Constance Wu, Ann Dowd, Noma Dumezweni and Gina Costigan.

The Great Dane in the film is Bing, a dog with a large social media following who makes his debut on screen with The Friend.

Release date of The Friend

The film had its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival. In 2024, Bleecker Street got the rights to distribute the film in North America. The Friend is set to release on March 28, 2025 in the United States. It will later open nationwide on April 4.