Jonathan Majors Loses Control in the Initial Trailer for Magazine Dreams

      Debuting two years ago at the Sundance Film Festival, Elijah Bynum's Magazine Dreams was meant to mark the beginning of a significant year for Jonathan Majors, who delivered a fierce performance in this Taxi Driver-like drama set in the bodybuilding realm. Acquired by Searchlight Pictures for a substantial sum, the film was subsequently put on hold following assault allegations against Majors. However, it has since been dropped by the distributor and recently picked up by Briarcliff Entertainment, which plans to release it theatrically on March 21. Ahead of this release, the first trailer has now been unveiled.

      The synopsis reads: “Killian Maddox is driven by his ambition to become a world-renowned bodybuilder and one day feature on the cover of fitness magazines. He leads a solitary, regimented existence, and his relentless pursuit of perfection only leads him further toward self-destruction. Yet, beneath his passionate quest for stardom lies a profound, aching desire for human connection. As he confronts both the limits of his physical form and his inner demons, MAGAZINE DREAMS delves into the lengths one man will go in his haunting journey for recognition in a society that often ignores him.”

      In my review from the premiere, I remarked, “How do you win people’s affection? How do you leave a lasting impression? These are the Google search queries of Killian Maddox (Jonathan Majors), a bodybuilder with unrealistic aspirations of fame and a solitary life, caring for his Vietnam veteran grandfather as he dedicates every moment to enhancing his physique and pushing his body to its limits. A brutally nihilistic film, Elijah Bynum’s second feature Magazine Dreams offers a singular powerhouse acting showcase for Majors, who ultimately becomes ensnared in the drawn-out second act as thematic concepts that initially resonate are reiterated to excess, and red herrings meant to astonish turn into unnecessary side stories.”

      Watch the trailer below for the film, which also features Haley Bennett, Taylour Paige, Mike O’Hearn, Harrison Page, and Harriet Sansom Harris.