Swanberg's team is positioning this as a return to form for the mumblecore pioneer, emphasizing his hands-on approach — writing, editing, AND directing while shooting on 35mm. The indie cred is strong here, folks.
Insiders note Swanberg has been relatively quiet since his last project, and landing both Fernandez and Senter suggests this dramedy has some serious heat behind it. Word is the Fast Star band concept was developed specifically for this film — no half-measures here.
The film marks Swanberg's first 35mm project in recent memory, announced September 3, 2026 via Variety. The logline centers on 'two longtime indie rock music' founders and their band Fast Star, with Fernandez playing Oliver Cross and Senter as Lucas Hunter.
Swanberg going back to 35mm is a statement of intent — this isn't streaming-friendly content, it's a love letter to the craft. Whether it pays off remains to be seen, but you can't say the man isn't committed.
Joe Swanberg is getting back to his roots, and honestly? It's about time. The indie auteur known for pioneering the mumblecore movement with films like 'Drinking Buddies' has announced his next project, an as-yet-untitled 35mm dramedy set in Chicago. What's got the film world buzzing isn't just Swanberg's return to celluloid — it's who's been tapped to star alongside him behind the camera. Shiloh Fernandez and Marc Senter have been cast as Oliver Cross and Lucas Hunter, respectively, the co-founders of an indie rock band called Fast Star. According to the logline, the film follows "two longtime indie rock music" founders and their complicated relationship with their craft. The truncated description in early reports suggests there's more to unpack about what drives these characters apart — or perhaps together. Swanberg is handling writing, editing, AND directing duties on this one, making it an unmistakably personal project. Going back to 35mm film stock after presumably working digital for recent projects signals a deliberate artistic choice that won't escape notice in indie circles. This isn't the safe bet — it's the passionate one. Fernandez and Senter aren't exactly strangers to challenging material. Both actors have built careers on picking projects with substance over spectacle, which makes this pairing feel less like a calculated move and more like genuine creative alignment. The Fast Star band concept reportedly was developed specifically for the film, suggesting Swanberg isn't interested in cutting corners when it comes to authenticity. Chicago itself becomes almost a character here — Swanberg has shot there before, and his naturalistic approach to location work should serve the city well. No glossy studio sets, no artificial lighting schemes designed to hide imperfections. Just raw, unfiltered filmmaking from a director who's proven he can find humanity in awkward pauses and improvised dialogue. The question everyone's asking: does this mark Swanberg's full creative comeback after what some industry watchers have called a quiet period? The 35mm choice alone suggests he's not interested in being safe anymore — or perhaps never was. Either way, Fast Star is the project to watch.
