A stellar cast of Robert De Niro, Sean Penn, Catherine Keener, John Turturro, Robin Wright Penn, Stanley Tucci, Kristen Stewart, Michael Wincott and Bruce Willis join forces for What Just Happened?, a satirical comedy about two nail-biting, back-stabbing, roller-coaster weeks in the life of middle aged Hollywood producer Ben (De Niro) who is trying to juggle his work and private life in tinsel town.
Ben is already in over his head trying to balance the tug-of-war of having two ex-wives and two different families with his latest business venture – the boldly “visionary” movie Fiercely starring Sean Penn when everything that can go wrong, does go wrong.
Fiercely looks like it is going to be an audience-offending flop which the hard nosed studio chief Lou (Keener), insists will only see the light day if Ben convinces drug-addled director Jeremy (Wincott) to re cut the finished product.
Meanwhile in his private life, he can’t stop thinking about his ex, Kelly (Wright Penn), is shocked by his daughter Zoe (Stewart) in her readiness to grow up and infuriated with his friend Scott (Tucci) who’s not only trying to make a deal with him but also making moves on his former wife…
On his next project he’s trying to deal with the artistic temperament of his leading man; Bruce Willis whilst receiving no support from Willis’ spineless agent Dick (Turturro).
Somehow amidst the madness, treachery, deceit, huge egos and personal politics behind-the-scenes in Hollywood, Ben has to find a way not just to Cannes with a finished film, but to cope and keep his sanity…
What Just Happened is released by Pathe in the UK and Ireland on October 10th.
What Just Happened? Bitter Hollywood Tales from the Front Line, by Art Linson, on which the film is based is available from the seenit.co.uk store.