Willem Dafoe is always a threat to be on that Oscars stage, as he’s been nominated four times in his extraordinary career. The buzz is starting to build again for his performance in Late Fame, the second film from Diane director Kent Jones, as an aging poet whose work is finally starting to get recognized.
Late Fame stars Dafoe as Ed Saxberger, an author of a poetry collection largely ignored for most of his life. Suddenly, newfound fame is thrust upon him when his work is discovered by a younger generation of admirers.
The film also stars amazing Past Lives actress Greta Lee, along with Edmund Donovan.
Late Fame is written by May December writer Samy Burch, adapted and reimagined from the 19th-century novella by Arthur Schnitzler that was published posthumously in 2014.
SYNOPSIS: Legendary New York poet Ed Saxberger’s forgotten works captivate an eccentric group of young creatives, reigniting his artistic passion. Their intrigue intertwines with the bewitching presence of actress Gloria.
Magnolia Pictures will release Late Fame in New York on August 7th 2026 and Los Angeles, August 14th 2026 with additional cities to follow.
