Steven Spielberg's The Fablemans- What We Know So Far

Even the most devoted cineastes might agree that, to date, 2022 has been pretty hit or miss at the theater, with pretty much every movie not titled "Top Gun: Maverick" proving divisive among critics and viewers. However, things may be looking up as studios and streamers are lining up a legitimately significant slate of releases for the rest of the year fronting new films from Rian Johnson, Guillermo del Toro, and David O. Russell, to name just a few. There's also some big-time tentpole fare en route in the guise of DC's "Black Adam," Marvel's "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever," and James Cameron's "Avatar: The Way of Water."

Those are big names, indeed. And in any other year, there would not be many releases higher on most movie lovers' must-see lists. Unfortunately for them, 2022 has the distinguished honor of delivering a fresh offering from iconic director Steven Spielberg. And it's safe to say few films are more anticipated this year than his period drama "The Fablemans." Here's everything we know about Spielberg's new movie so far. 

Yes, a new film from Steven Spielberg is on the way! And even if "The Fablemans" will find the filmmaker working on a much smaller scale than we're used to, the film is sure to pack all the heart, drama, and breathtaking imagery we've come to expect in his work. "The Fablemans" will see Spielberg re-teaming with frequent behind-the-scenes collaborators, with cinematographer Janusz Kamiński, composer John Williams, and screenwriter Tony Kushner all contributing work to the film.

However, several new faces will enter Spielberg's orbit on-screen. And holy smokes, has the beloved filmmaker assembled an excellent cast for "The Fablemans." Among them are dramatic heavy-hitters like four-time Oscar nominee Michelle Williams and indie stalwart Paul Dano. That formidable pair last appeared together in Kelly Reichardt's little-seen Western marvel "Meeks Cutoff," and if you saw it, you know they've got some serious chemistry. "The Fablemans" will also reunite Williams with another former co-star, Seth Rogen, who wowed audiences in a rare dramatic turn in Sarah Polley's brilliant 2011 indie "Take This Waltz."

Joining that trio in "The Fablemans" are showbiz mainstays Judd Hirsch, Jeannie Berlin, and Robin Bartlett, as well as relative newcomers Gabriel LaBelle, Oakes Fegley, and Julia Butters. Most interestingly, the film will also feature a performance from David Lynch in an as-yet unspecified role (per Variety). And it should be fascinating to see what the "Twin Peaks" mastermind brings to "The Fablemans" mix. 

Though we still don't know exactly what David Lynch will be doing in "The Fablemans," we do have a much clearer idea of what his cast mates will get up to. And by all accounts, "The Fablemans" will be the most personal movie Steven Spielberg has ever made, with the legendary filmmaker mining his family history for the movie. That's not entirely new territory for Spielberg, who's been frank about the fact that his parent's divorce partly inspired his 1982 masterpiece "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial" over the years (per Turner Classic Movies).

It seems the impact of that break-up will be even more front and center for "The Fablemans," which finds Spielberg and co-writer Tony Kushner exploring the effects of the split on young Sammy Fableman (Gabriel LaBelle). As posted on the Toronto International Film Festival site, Michelle Williams will play Sammy's mother, Mitzi, with Paul Dano portraying his father, Burt. Per the TIFF synopsis, the film "finds the director reflecting on the experiences that made him the filmmaker we know and love, in a story based on his childhood in Arizona."

That story will find young Sammy coming of age as he discovers his life-long love of cinema and his undying passion for filmmaking. Those monumental events coincide with the seismic changes in his family life, with the film delving into how they've continued to inform his work and process.   

That synopsis should have any true blue movie lover salivating to get a look at Steven Spielberg's latest opus. And we're betting tickets to the world premiere of "The Fablemans" at the Toronto International Film Festival are among the hardest to claim. That premiere will happen on September 10, 2022. While we'll all be watching the critical reports of that high-profile screening, the mere mortals among us will have to wait a little longer to gaze upon "The Fablemans."

The good news is the wait will not be long, with Universal Pictures prepping to release the film just in time for the holidays. Well, during the Thanksgiving holiday, as Collider reports. "The Fablemans" will see a limited release on November 11, 2022, before hitting theaters nationwide on November 23. That's likely not soon enough for diehard fans of the filmmaker's work. But given Steven Spielberg's immaculate track record and the sheer level of talent involved in the new film, "The Fablemans" will surely be worth the wait.

With any luck, we'll also get a trailer for "The Fablemans" sooner rather than later. Until then, we'll have to sate our appetites by feasting upon the film's lavish new poster (via The Hollywood Reporter).