A Heartwarming Tale of Friendship: Naomi Watts and Bill Murray in The Friend

"The Friend" Trailer Released: Naomi Watts, Bill Murray, and a Lovable Great Dane

The first trailer for the drama "The Friend," starring Naomi Watts and Bill Murray, has been released. The actors are joined by a lovable Great Dane named Bing. Critics have highly praised the film, with Watts' role being called the best in the 56-year-old actress's career.

The story takes place in New York City. The plot follows Iris (Watts, "The Impossible"), a writer and teacher who is grieving the loss of her friend and mentor, Walter (Murray, "Groundhog Day"). Soon, she discovers that Walter has left her his dog – a Great Dane named Apollo (Bing). The dog is heartbroken after the death of his owner, and Iris is also sad to say goodbye to her best friend. Therefore, Iris and Apollo help each other overcome their loss.

The premiere of "The Friend" took place at the Telluride Film Festival in 2024. The film was warmly received. It has a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 20 reviews. Some of the reviews can be seen in the trailer. Indie Wire called the story warm, witty, and wise, while Deadline called it soulful and human. According to AwardsWatch, it is a "nostalgic and beautifully shot miracle." RogerEbert.com praised Naomi Watts, noting that this is her best work.

"The Friend" is based on the 2018 eponymous bestseller by Sigrid Nunez. The film is directed and written by Scott McGehee and David Siegel ("What Maisie Knew"). The cast also includes Constance Wu ("Crazy Rich Asians"), Ann Dowd ("The Handmaid's Tale"), Noma Dumezweni ("The Undoing"), Owen Teague ("It"), and Carla Gugino ("The Haunting of Hill House").

"The Friend" will be released in limited theaters in New York on March 28. It will be released nationwide on April 4.