'The Last Movie Stars': Ethan Hawke To Direct A New Doc About Paul Newman & Joanne Woodward; Martin Scorsese To Produce

It’s not often that Ethan Hawke steps behind the camera to direct a film. His last feature was 2018’s “Blaze,” for example. It’s even rarer for his directing efforts to be on a documentary, only helming the 2014 film, “Seymour: An Introduction.” But it appears the actor-turned-filmmaker is about to finish work on his next film, a documentary titled “The Last Movie Stars,” which is heading to CNN+.

According to the streaming platform, Ethan Hawke is directing a documentary, “The Last Movie Stars,” which chronicles the lives, careers, and love affair between two Hollywood legends, Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward. Martin Scorsese is also on board as an executive producer on the film. “The Last Movie Stars” sheds light on the private lives of Newman and Woodward, who were not only massive stars themselves but also very renowned philanthropists. 

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“Exploring Woodward and Newman through their 50-year love affair has proven more rewarding than I could have imagined,” said Hawke. “Their work, philanthropy, and lives serve as a kind of North Star, illuminating what a substantive, meaningful life can look like.”

“Ethan’s brilliant vision illuminates what fascinates us about Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman in a film worthy of their talents and passions,” said Amy Entelis, executive vice president for talent and content development for CNN Worldwide. “We look forward to sharing this unique, multi-chapter story with CNN+ subscribers.”

In addition to using footage of Newman and Woodward, Hawke also is using an all-star cast to voice transcribed interviews of the stars including Karen Allen, George Clooney, Oscar Isaac, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Zoe Kazan, Laura Linney, Sam Rockwell, and more. Initially, the film’s six chapters will debut on CNN+, the new streaming platform spinning off of the cable news network. From there, the film will eventually make its way to HBO Max.

A release date for the film has yet to be announced.