Willem Dafoe Chases an Adorable Cryptid in The Legend of Ochi Trailer

A24 enters the family film market with its own toyetic creation.

Full Article

A24 has released a trailer for The Legend of Ochi, a fantasy adventure film for the whole family starring Willem Dafoe, Emily Watson, Stranger Things‘ Finn Wolfhard, News of the World‘s Helena Zengel, and an adorable little puppet monster. Have a look: As evidenced from the trailer, the story concerns a teenage girl who comes across a fledgling “ochi”—essentially, a golden snub-nosed monkey with larger ears destined to grow up into a hulking, Sasquatch-like monster feared by the villagers of a small island community. Despite the warnings of her peers and bloodthirsty elders, our hero is determined to return the creature home to its own family. Based on an original screenplay by music video director Isaiah Saxon (making his feature debut), The Legend of Ochi has been described as both an “adventure musical” and “a movie about the mysteries of animal communication” by the man’s very own Tumblr page. To our eyes, it looks like a cross between The Great Panda Adventure and Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris. The story’s fictional location also seems to be partially based on every island culture at once, emitting heavy Babe: Pig in the City fumes. And yes, that’s A24 favorite Willem Dafoe as the crusty, ochi-hating zealot destined for a bittersweet comeuppance. The film additionally boasts an original score by Dave Longstreth of the Dirty Projectors’ fame. As of this writing, no release date has been set. So, are you excited for The Legend of Ochi? Will its practical puppet win the hearts and minds of the moviegoing public like Gizmo the Mogwai and E.T., or is its merchandisable lead destined to be as fondly remember as Nukie, Munchie, or Kirbi from Hyper Sapien: People from Another Star? Let us know in the comments. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
A24The Legend of OchiWillem Dafoe
Get the best tech, science, and culture news in your inbox daily.

News from the future, delivered to your present.

Please select your desired newsletters and submit your email to upgrade your inbox.

The first trailer for Robert Eggers’ long-gestating Nosferatu remake has finally seen the light of day. And oh, it burns !

Plus, Robert Downey Jr. still has hopes he could return to Iron Man some day.

The busy star (It, John Wick: Chapter 4, Boy Kills World) also has The Crow coming up this year.

Tim Burton’s latest starring Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, and Jenna Ortega is out in September.

We’ve said his name three times—now he must appear! Michael Keaton, Jenna Ortega, and Winona Ryder star in Tim Burton’s long-awaited sequel.

There’s never been a better time to play everything Netflix has to offer on phones, which still remain free for anybody who has a Netflix account.
Discover the Winners of the 2024 Gizmodo Science Fair ➜ We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our sites.
©2024 GIZMODO USA LLC. All rights reserved. Mode
Follow us
Mode
Follow us

Read more at the source