The 37-year-old filmmaker, who has branched out into acting, assures that the decision to part ways professionally with his brother is amicable, though he's not sure if they'll ever work together again.
- Jan 5, 2024
AceShowbiz - An "Uncut Gems" sequel in on the bubble following the Safdie brothers' split. Confirming he parted ways professionally with his co-directing brother amid his solo projects, Benny Safdie says that a planned follow-up to the 2019 film is now "on pause."
Speaking to Variety in an interview published on Thursday, January 4, Benny assures that his creative split with Josh Safdie is amicable. "It's a natural progression of what we each want to explore," he says. "I will direct on my own, and I will explore things that I want to explore. I want that freedom right now in my life."
With that being said, Benny is no longer involved in the development of "Uncut Gems 2". He did not co-write the script and hasn't been a meaningful part of the creative process, despite reports to the contrary. When asked whether he'll direct again with his brother, Benny says with a shrug, "I don't know."
Amid Benny's acting career with roles in "Oppenheimer","Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret." and "The Curse", fans had speculated there was a rift with his older brother. Most recently, he announced his solo filmmaking debut, A24 movie's "The Smashing Machine" starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as the mixed martial arts champion Mark Kerr.
Described as Dwayne's "most dramatic project and role yet," it was first pitched in 2019 when the wrestler-turned-actor acquired the rights to Mark's story. "I want to be clear not to say that this is an abandonment of big, four-quadrant movies. I love making them, and there is tremendous value and importance in [them] ... but there's a time and a place for them. I'm at this point in my career where I want more. And I don't mean I want more box office. I mean I want more humanity. And that is why Benny Safdie is the perfect, collaborative, hungry partner for me," he said of teaming up with the 37-year-old for the movie.
"Benny wants to create, and continues to push the envelope when it comes to stories that are raw and real, characters that are authentic and at times uncomfortable and arresting," he added. "I'm at a point in my career where I want to push myself in ways that I've not pushed myself in the past. I'm at a point in my career where I want to make films that matter, that explore a humanity and explore struggle [and] pain."
The Safdie brothers also directed 2017's "Good Time" starring Robert Pattinson and produced shows "Love Has Won: The Cult of Mother God", "Telemarketers" and more.
