This year has shown a surge in ‘movies about movies’ set in classic Hollywood and I welcome them with open arms! First it was The Cohen Brothers’ Hail, Ceasar!, then Woody Allen’s Cafe Society and now it’s Warren Beatty‘s turn. If you don’t know who Warren Beatty is that’s probably because you watch too many superhero movies. He is true Hollywood royalty – ever heard of Bonnie & Clyde (1967)? – he was Clyde. This year comes the release of Rules Don’t Apply which he wrote, directed and stars in. The film is set in Hollywood in 1958, a time and place Beatty must know all too well.

An aspiring young actress Marla Mabrey (Lily Collins) arrives in Hollywood under contract to the infamously unpredictable billionaire, Howard Hughes (played by Warren Beatty). She shares an instant attraction with her driver, Frank Forbes (Alden Ehrenreich, AKA the new young Han Solo), which causes a few problems, mainly it breaks their boss’ number one rule: no employee is allowed to have any relationship whatsoever with a contract actress. What ensues is a tongue in cheek romantic drama riddled with nostalgic imagery of a more artistically integral era in every aspect, especially the lighting. The film also features an all-star cast including Matthew Broderick, Annette Bening, Martin Sheen, Ed Harris, Alec Baldwin, Chace Crawford and Taissa Farming. Alden Ehrenreich, with his magnetic presence and great performances in his smaller roles so far, may just be on the way to becoming Hollywood royalty himself.

The trailer definitely boasts some of the best cinematography and production design we will see this year, whether or not the film delivers as a whole, we will have to wait and see. Rules Don’t Apply is due in US theatres in November, you can watch the trailer below.

Lily Collins in Rules Don’t Apply

Warren Beatty in Rules Don’t Apply