Julia Roberts and Ayo Edebiri deliver powerful performances in Luca Guadagnino’s gripping new thriller After the Hunt, a tense story of truth, loyalty, and moral gray areas set in the world of academia.
Julia Roberts and Ayo Edebiri are teaming up — and facing off — in After the Hunt, a new psychological thriller directed by Luca Guadagnino. The film dives deep into themes of truth, power, and moral ambiguity, set within the competitive world of academia.
Roberts stars as a respected college professor whose life spirals when her devoted student, played by Edebiri, accuses the professor’s closest confidante of sexual misconduct. The shocking allegation sends ripples through their academic community, pitting loyalty against ambition as both women wrestle with secrets, shifting alliances, and blurred lines between right and wrong.
In an interview with CBS Mornings, Roberts shared that sparking meaningful discussion was one of the film’s key goals. “You don’t want anybody to walk away from this painting and just be like, ‘Hmm.’ That’s death,” Roberts said, comparing cinema to art that provokes thought and emotion.
Edebiri echoed that sentiment, saying the movie “demands conversation” because it explores complicated truths that aren’t black and white.
When asked who she believes is telling the truth in the story, Roberts kept quiet. “That is for me to know,” she said, explaining that giving her personal opinion would take away from the film’s open-ended nature.
Roberts also revealed that she and Guadagnino immediately knew Edebiri was perfect for the role. “She was the one clear bell that we both heard,” Roberts said. “We would have been set adrift if Ayo hadn’t agreed to do it.”
One of the film’s most emotional scenes involves Edebiri’s character slapping Roberts’ professor — a moment that made Edebiri nervous. “Today’s the day that I have to slap, like, God’s gift to planet Earth,” she said jokingly, calling Roberts part of a “holy trinity” of beloved icons alongside Princess Diana and Celine Dion. Roberts reassured her co-star, saying, “You just gotta slap me,” encouraging her to stay in character.
In September 2025, during a press interview at the Venice Film Festival, an awkward moment caught widespread attention: a journalist asked Roberts and Andrew Garfield about the future of the #MeToo and Black Lives Matter movements — excluding Edebiri, who was sitting right beside them.
Edebiri handled it gracefully, reminding everyone that those movements are far from over and that meaningful change requires continued effort and attention. Her response went viral, earning praise for its thoughtfulness and poise.
When After the Hunt was first announced, it was also revealed that Roberts and Guadagnino had Edebiri in mind from the beginning. The director reportedly saw her as a perfect fit for the complex mentor-protégé story.
This early creative decision shaped the emotional tension and moral complexity that define the film — ensuring that the story’s exploration of truth, loyalty, and betrayal felt deeply personal from the start.
After the Hunt, which also stars Andrew Garfield, is now playing in select theaters — inviting viewers to question truth, loyalty, and how far people will go to protect their version of reality.
