Ethan Hawke expressed relief and satisfaction following the completion of filming for his latest project, Blue Moon. The film, which premiered at the BFI London Film Festival on October 16, 2025, features Hawke as the troubled songwriter Lorenz Hart. This role explores Hart’s struggles with alcoholism and depression as he grapples with the end of his creative partnership with Richard Rodgers, portrayed by Andrew Scott.
At the festival, Hawke shared his intense experience while portraying Hart. “Highlight day on set? Wrap! It was so exhausting playing this part and trying to get inside this world,” he noted. Reflecting on the emotional toll of the character, he added, “When we wrapped, I felt amazing.” The film depicts a pivotal moment in Hart’s life during the opening night of Oklahoma! in 1943, a musical created by Rodgers and his new collaborator, Oscar Hammerstein, played by Simon Delaney.
Hawke emphasized the support he received from Richard Linklater, the film’s director, acknowledging that he could not have tackled such a complex role without Linklater’s guidance. “This movie was almost like playing a character who is walking in front of a firing squad and can’t stop talking,” he explained. “He is absolutely terrified that the world is leaving him behind.” Hawke praised Linklater for his passion, intelligence, grace, and care throughout the filming process, stating, “That’s how you do it.”
While the film explores themes of addiction, Hawke clarified that he did not feel compelled to delve into addiction on screen. Instead, he described Blue Moon as a “beautifully written” piece that was impossible to resist. “Life has taught me about addiction and artistry; I didn’t need this part,” he said. “Exploring Larry makes you think about a lot.”
This collaboration marks another chapter in Hawke’s long-standing relationship with Linklater, dating back to their first film together, Before Sunrise, nearly 30 years ago. At the Berlin Film Festival in February, he remarked on their enduring partnership: “It feels like it’s been a 30-year conversation. I met him one night after he came to see a play I was in, and we talked till four in the morning. That was 30 years ago. And we just keep talking, and these movies come out of that.”
As Blue Moon prepares for its wider release, audiences can anticipate a captivating exploration of a complex figure in the world of musical theater, brought to life by Hawke’s dedicated performance.
