A24 has released a teaser for Uchee’s Legend, a fantastical adventure film for the whole family starring Willem Dafoe, Emily Watson, Stranger Things“Finn Wolfhard, News of the WorldHelena Zengel, and a delightful little monster puppet. Take a look:
As seen in the teaser, the story revolves around a teenage girl who encounters Uchee the newborn – a golden monkey with a flat nose and ears larger than life that is destined to grow into a giant beast resembling a sasquatch feared by the island’s villagers. Despite warnings from her bloodthirsty peers and elders, our heroine is determined to return the creature to its home and family.
Based on an original screenplay by music video director Isaiah Saxon (in his first feature), Uchee’s Legend has been described as a “musical adventure film” and a “film about animal communication puzzles” on the man’s Tumblr page. In our eyes, it appears to intersect with Kung Fu Panda and Toy Story 3: Rainbow. It also seems that the fantastical setting of the story draws partially from the culture of each island at once, emanating a Fathom: Pig in the City vibe.
And yes, this is A24’s favorite Willem Dafoe as the hardened Uchee-hater and begrudgingly deserving of a sweet and sour comeuppance. The film also features original music by Dirty Projectors’ Dave Longstreth. As of writing this, no release date has been set.
So, are you excited for Uchee’s Legend? Will its practical puppet win the hearts and minds of cinema-goers like Gizmo the Mogwai and ET, or will its marketable lead role be remembered with pride like Nukie or Munchie or Kirbi from Hyper Sapien: People from Another Star? Let us know in the comments.
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