Naomi Watts and Bill Murray got here as one thing of a package deal deal of their new film.
The 2 real-life buddies play onscreen friends in The Friend, which not too long ago screened on the the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival. Watts, 55, jokes to PEOPLE that the producers solid her as a approach to get to Murray.
“They talked about his title, and at first I used to be like, ‘Oh, god, that is why they referred to as me. As a result of they wish to get to Invoice,’ ” Watts says. “As a result of folks know that I do know him, and we have labored collectively.”
“However after they stated that, it simply was an aha second and I could not see it some other approach. I used to be decided, so I made the decision,” she provides. “Nicely, I texted him first, and I wasn’t even positive if he’d reply. Typically folks like that change their telephone numbers often.”
Watts and Murray first labored collectively on the 2014 film St. Vincent and have been buddies since. “It means the world. It is very beautiful, and we do have a really particular friendship,” she provides of Murray answering her name to star alongside her within the drama, based mostly on creator Sigrid Nunez‘s 2018 novel of the identical title.
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“And I like that this story facilities round friendships, as a result of not many tales do. If it is a relationship film, it is usually romance or household dynamics,” Watts tells PEOPLE. “And friendship is one thing that is a really highly effective factor. As you grow old, it turns into an increasing number of significant. So yeah, it is smart. I’ve that type of friendship with Invoice, too.”
Other than Watts and Murray, the brand new film from filmmakers Scott McGehee and David Siegel additionally stars Sarah Pidgeon, Carla Gugino, Constance Wu, Nova Dumezweni, Ann Dowd, Felix Solis, Owen Teague and Bing the Great Dane.
In The Buddy, Watts performs a lady named Iris who assumes accountability for a lot of of her late good friend Walter’s (Murray) possessions after his sudden dying — together with his canine.
The film made its world premiere on the 2024 Telluride Film Festival.