Pedro Pascal’s ‘Behemoth!’ Premieres at NYFF, Drawing Oscar Buzz Ahead of December Release

Tony Gilroy’s music drama Behemoth! made its world premiere on Friday, Oct. 2, as the Centerpiece selection of the 64th New York Film Festival at Alice Tully Hall — and the Behemoth Pedro Pascal movie is already being talked about as an awards-season player ahead of its Dec. 4 theatrical release from Searchlight Pictures.

Gilroy, Pascal and cast members including Eva Victor and Will Arnett attended the festival premiere, according to Awards Watch. The festival, which runs from Sept. 25 through Oct. 12, positioned the film between James Gray’s opening-night Paper Tiger and Ava DuVernay’s closing-night documentary 14th — prime real estate that signals how highly programmers regard Gilroy’s latest.

Behemoth Pedro Pascal Movie: The Story

Pascal stars as Alex Serian, a gifted cellist and former child prodigy from a multi-generational musical family. According to TheWrap, Alex leaves an orchestra in Chicago to move west and record Hollywood film scores — a less prestigious gig that forces him to confront unfinished family business and memories from his past.

Gilroy, the Oscar-nominated writer of Michael Clayton and creator of Andor, tells the story on a non-linear timeline, flashing back to Alex’s past as a child prodigy through music cues and the recording sessions that trigger them. The drama has been described as “a thundering, savvy tribute to the power of music that builds to an emotional wallop of a climax,” with a score drawing on the talents of A-list composers — reports name Michael Giacchino, James Newton Howard, Henry Jackman and Alan Silvestri among the musicians contributing.

It is a film about music, movies and Hollywood itself: a musician returns to Los Angeles to celebrate film scores and the artists who create them, exploring family, creativity and the lasting impact of artists and their work.

The Cast and Tony Gilroy’s Return to Feature Directing

Pascal is joined by an ensemble that includes Olivia Wilde, Eva Victor, Alexa Swinton, Kaya Ralls, Erik Griffin, JoBeth Williams and Margarita Levieva, with Hank Azaria and Will Arnett — who stepped into a key role during production. Victor and Arnett joined Gilroy and Pascal at the festival’s Oct. 2 press discussion.

Behemoth! marks Gilroy’s return to feature filmmaking for the first time since 2012’s The Bourne Legacy, as noted by The Playlist — a 14-year gap spent largely on television, including the acclaimed Andor. Introducing the film at NYFF, Gilroy told the crowd: “This is not an easy movie to greenlight, and it’s not an easy movie to sell. But here we are. We got here calmly, gracefully, no drama, and our joie de vivre intact.”

Early Reactions: Praise for Pascal’s Turn and Early Oscar Buzz

The festival set the tone early. NYFF artistic director Dennis Lim called the film “immaculately crafted” with a “note-perfect ensemble cast,” adding: “Holding it all together is a tour de force by Pedro Pascal, one of the performances of the year from one of our true movie stars,” as reported by Awards Watch.

First reactions out of the premiere praised Pascal’s “mesmerizing” performance, with critics largely agreeing that the music is outstanding. /Film gave the movie 8.5 out of 10, calling it a payoff-heavy ode to moviemaking, music and the artists who make it all possible.

The awards chatter is already real. Behemoth! was previously predicted to be a serious Best Picture contender at the 2027 Oscars, and early coverage suggests the first reviews make Best Director and Best Original Screenplay nominations for Gilroy — plus a Best Actor nomination for Pascal, which would be the first of his career — more likely. As one report put it, “the awards season conversation has already begun.”

Part of the buzz comes from how Pascal earned the part. The actor really learned the cello for the role, calling the crash course “hell” and “the hardest thing I’ve ever done, creatively, for a part,” Decider reported from the NYFF press conference. Gilroy asked him point-blank whether he was up to the challenge: Pascal answered, honestly, “I don’t know” — and then did it anyway.

‘Behemoth Pedro Pascal Movie’: Release Date and Trailer

Searchlight Pictures will release Behemoth! in U.S. theaters on Dec. 4, 2026 — in limited release, according to Decider — positioning it squarely in the heart of awards season. The official trailer is circulating widely ahead of the theatrical run.

For more from this year’s New York Film Festival, read our coverage of the NYFF premiere of Paper Tiger, which opened the festival — and for another star-driven drama to watch, see Brad Pitt’s Heart of the Beast.

FAQs: ‘Behemoth!’ Release Date, Plot and Premiere

When is ‘Behemoth!’ released?

Behemoth! opens in U.S. theaters on Dec. 4, 2026, in limited release from Searchlight Pictures.

What is ‘Behemoth!’ about?

Pedro Pascal plays Alex Serian, a gifted cellist and former child prodigy who leaves a Chicago orchestra and returns to Los Angeles after two decades to record Hollywood film scores, confronting unfinished family business along the way. The story unfolds on a non-linear timeline, flashing back to Alex’s past through music.

Where did ‘Behemoth!’ premiere?

The film world-premiered as the Centerpiece selection of the 64th New York Film Festival on Oct. 2, 2026, at Alice Tully Hall, with Tony Gilroy, Pedro Pascal, Eva Victor and Will Arnett in attendance.

Is ‘Behemoth!’ getting Oscar buzz?

Early awards-season chatter is building. The film was previously predicted to be a serious Best Picture contender at the 2027 Oscars, and early coverage suggests nominations for Gilroy (Best Director, Best Original Screenplay) and a first-ever Best Actor nomination for Pascal are plausible. NYFF artistic director Dennis Lim called Pascal’s performance “a tour de force” and “one of the performances of the year.”