Hail, Caesar! is set in 1950’s Hollywood and centers on Eddie Mannix (played by Brolin), a “fixer” who’s called in to help after the star of a major movie is kidnapped and held for ransom mid-production. As we can see from the trailer, Baird Whitlock (Clooney) is one of the most famous actors in the world, in spite of the fact that he can’t seem to remember his lines and possibly drinks too much. The studio is desperate get him back, of course, but all they have to go on is a ransom note from a group called “The Future” demanding $100,000.
When Mannix is called in for help, he pulls in some of the people affiliated with the studio, Capitol Pictures, to assist him. Since its “bad for movie stars everywhere,” he’s able to recruit a team. Among those who get involved, based on the trailer, are Burt (Channing Tatum), an actor who’s shown doing choreographed dances in a sailor suit (but not stripping — this isn’t Magic Mike) and a character played by Scarlett Johansson, who stars in an elaborate aquatic production complete with diving and a mermaid costume. Along the way, the group will have to work to keep the story out of the press, among other challenges.
Written, directed, produced by Joel and Ethan Coen, Hail, Caesar! looks like as much of a “prestige picture” as the project being shot in the film (also called Hail, Caesar!). In addition to many talented actors mentioned above, Alden Ehrenreich, Jonah Hill, and Frances MacDormand also star.
Hail, Caesar! is expected to hit theaters on Feb. 5, 2016.
