Entertainment
Filmmaker Macon Blair releases road comedy 'Idiots' following 13-year development delay
Originally titled 'The Shitheads,' the film premiered at Sundance in 2026 before securing distribution with IFC.
The short version
- Writer-director Macon Blair is releasing his road comedy 'Idiots' in theaters on August 28, concluding a 13-year development process that began in 2013.
- The film faced financing failures, recasting, and a title change from 'The Shitheads' before actor Dave Franco joined in 2024 as star and producer to revive the project.
- After filming in late 2025 and premiering at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, the movie secured distribution with IFC.
Key facts
- Macon Blair began writing 'Idiots' in 2013 under the original title 'The Shitheads', inspired by an anecdote from co-producer Alex Orr.[The Hollywood Reporter]
- Earlier iterations of the project involved actors Luke Wilson, Tracy Morgan, and Ron Funches before financing collapsed around 2017 and 2018.[The Hollywood Reporter]
- Dave Franco contacted Blair in 2024 to board the film as a star and producer, helping secure independent financing and joining co-stars O'Shea Jackson Jr. and Mason Thames.[The Hollywood Reporter]
- The project was filmed in fall 2025, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2026, and secured distribution with IFC ahead of its August 28 release.[The Hollywood Reporter]
- Blair confirmed he filmed a small role in director Jeremy Saulnier's upcoming film 'October'.[The Hollywood Reporter]
What remains uncertain
- Blair stated that he does not know the exact release date for Jeremy Saulnier's film 'October', though he expects it before October 2027.[The Hollywood Reporter]
Sources
- ‘Idiots’ Filmmaker Macon Blair Talks Surviving 13 Years of Setbacks, Recastings and a Title ChangeThe Hollywood Reporter metered