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The cast of Eddington: The Pandemic Satire Splitting Cannes in Two
When a film stars Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Emma Stone, and Austin Butler, expectations are high. And that’s exactly what happened at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival when Eddington, the latest film from director Ari Aster, hit the screen. Presented by Pascal himself, Eddington dives deep into the chaos, confusion, and media madness of the pandemic era.
The story takes place in a small town in New Mexico, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Joaquin Phoenix stars as Joe Cross, the local sheriff who isn’t exactly a fan of masks or mandates. On the other side is Ted Garcia, portrayed by Pedro Pascal, who is vying to become mayor during one of the most chaotic elections the town has ever experienced. Their power struggle unfolds live as misinformation, conspiracy theories, and public tension spiral out of control.
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But this isn’t just a political drama. Emma Stone plays Louise, Joe’s wife, who gets caught up in a psychological downward spiral driven by online conspiracies. Austin Butler portrays Vernon Jefferson Peak, a charismatic yet elusive preacher who appears in town as a wild card influence. The film skillfully combines tension, satire, and surrealism in a way only Ari Aster can achieve.
Eddington, which premiered on May 16 in the official competition, received a seven-minute standing ovation. That seems like a success, but not everyone was convinced. Some people left before the credits even rolled, and critics have been divided. While some hail it as a timely reflection of the modern world’s blurred sense of truth, others found its pacing slow and its message disjointed.
Still, there’s no denying the film’s cultural relevance or the strength of the cast that brings it to life.
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The Cast of Eddington
Joaquin Phoenix, no stranger to intense roles, takes on Joe Cross with his trademark intensity. From “Joker” to “Her,” Phoenix is renowned for immersing himself into emotionally challenging characters. In this film, he plays a sheriff caught between duty and ego, in a world where reality is being rewritten in real-time.
Pedro Pascal, one of the busiest actors in Hollywood right now, plays Ted Garcia, a man attempting to lead a town while clinging to his own version of the truth. After starring in “The Mandalorian,” “The Last of Us,” “Gladiator II,” and even taking on a role in the Marvel universe as Reed Richards, Pascal adds depth to the role of a politician navigating chaos.
Emma Stone delivers a subdued intensity as Louise, a woman whose mental state unravels as fear and isolation take over. Following her Oscar-winning performance in “Poor Things” and a strong filmography including “La La Land” and “Birdman,” Stone once again proves she’s one of the most versatile actors of her generation.
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Austin Butler, previously dazzling audiences as Elvis and making waves in Dune: Part Two, takes on the role of Vernon Jefferson Peak, a preacher with ambiguous intentions and a magnetizing presence. He brings another gripping dimension to the narrative, managing to stand out even among a cast brimming with power players.
And there’s more: Luke Grimes (Yellowstone), Deirdre O’Connell (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind), Clifton Collins Jr. (Star Trek, Westworld), and Micheal Ward (Top Boy) complete the ensemble
While it premiered at Cannes, the movie hits U.S. theaters on July 18. No word yet on a Latin American release, but buzz around the film already has it positioned as one of the most talked-about releases of 2025.
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