‘Late Fame’ Trailer: Willem Dafoe Is Oscar-Worthy as a Faded New York Poet Who Finds Relevance Again

Four-time Oscar nominee Willem Dafoe — ever a soothing, equanimous presence in moments of frenzy and crisis — deserves a place in the 2026-2027 movie awards season for his extraordinary performance in Kent Jones’ second feature, “Late Fame.” He’s so dissolved into character, with such measured gravitas, that it almost feels like Dafoe is playing himself.

Here, he’s Ed Saxberger, a once-revered New York City post-Beat-era poet who, in the present day, works at the post office and shoots pool with his blue-collar pals. Until a coterie of twentysomethings known as the Enthusiasm Society wants to reintroduce his lost genius to the world to lift up their own ambitions of launching a self-styled literary salon.

Below, IndieWire exclusively debuts the trailer for “Late Fame,” out from Magnolia Pictures beginning in August. Watch below.

Jones’ previous film was the masterful portrait of ordinary life in miniature, “Diane,” starring Mary Kay Place in a revelatory performance. “Late Fame” is written by Oscar-nominated “May December” scribe Samy Burch with her signature biting wit, one that borders on an even sicker sense of humor that’s unafraid of puncturing convention.

As Magnolia promises in its synopsis, “After an eager and flattering young admirer (Edmund Donovan) appears on his doorstep, Saxberger is beckoned into a coterie of twentysomething admirers who anoint him as a rediscovered genius. Intoxicated by the attention — and by the alluring presence of Gloria, the group’s ‘tragic heroine’ (a sinuous, Kurt Weill-crooning Greta Lee) — Saxberger gradually reckons with the authenticity of his newfound poetic circle.”

Equally strong is Greta Lee, who took over for Sandra Hüller, in a theatrical role that feels close to a modern-day Holly Golightly, with the sadness underneath being flighty, amorous, and unattainable.

More from IndieWire’s review of “Late Fame” out of the Venice Film Festival, where it world-premiered: “‘Late Fame’ bleeds a hard-earned wisdom that can only be exhibited by someone who has spent decades working in the arts.”

“Late Fame” is written and directed by Kent Jones from a novella by Arthur Schnitzler. The Austrian writer is the author behind the “Eyes Wide Shut” source material; here, of course, Jones swaps out the original posthumous book’s Vienna setting for lower Manhattan.

Jones’ previous feature, “Diane,” is finally coming to Blu-ray this summer. “Late Fame” is backed by Magnolia Pictures, Killer Films Productions, in association with Fresh Fish Films, Working Barn Productions, Morning Moon Productions, and MK2 Films.

Magnolia Pictures will release “Late Fame” in New York on Friday, August 7 and Los Angeles on Friday, August 14. Additional cities to follow.