While two-time Oscar-winning actor Emma Stone is most well-known for being in front of the camera, the Poor Things performer is starting an exciting trend when it comes to the project she’s producing as well. Stone first proved her knack for comedy with starring roles in Easy A before shooting the Amazing Spider-Man films. However, it’s Stone’s post-Spidey endeavors that have clearly shaped her cinematic interests. From her work with director Alejandro González Iñárritu on the dark-comedy drama Birdman to Stone’s multiple collaborations with Yorgos Lanthimos, the Favourite actor has carved out a niche.
Stone’s love of complicated roles that combine elements of drama, dark comedy, and the downright strange has also translated to her tastes as a producer. The actor’s production company, Fruit Tree, might be relatively new, but it is already making a bold, promising name for itself by helping offbeat movies and TV series get made. Clearly, Emma Stone has a strong commitment to collaborating with visionary directors and writers, so her foray into producing is incredibly welcome. In 2024 alone, Fruit Tree has produced several acclaimed titles, from Julio Torres’ debut feature Problemista to an upcoming A24 horror flick.
The latest film that Emma Stone’s Fruit Tree has thrown its weight behind is I Saw the TV Glow. After premiering at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2024, writer-director Jane Schoenbrun’s second feature landed a distribution deal with A24. The coming-of-age horror-thriller film stars Justice Smith (Pokémon: Detective Pikachu) and Brigette Lundy-Paine (Atypical) as Owen and Maddie, young adults who bond over their shared love of a formative childhood TV series. After the show is canceled under mysterious circumstances, Owen and Maddie’s reality begins to blur with the lore of the series.
Under their Fruit Tree banner, Stone and her husband, Dave McCary (Saturday Night Live), serve as two of I Saw the TV Glow‘s producers. Even though Stone doesn’t appear in the film, the actor’s notoriety is a surefire way for the off-beat film to gain momentum and find an audience. Of course, A24’s best horror films of the past, which range from Under the Skin to Midsommar to Talk to Me, certainly help. While I Saw the TV Glow doesn’t hit theaters until May 3, early critical reviews have the film sitting at an impressive 90% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Even though Stone’s banner is relatively new, other critically acclaimed Fruit Tree productions have hit screens ahead of I Saw the TV Glow. Most recently, Fruit Tree supported Problemista, A24’s surrealist comedy film helmed by Julio Torres, who stars opposite Tilda Swinton. On the TV side of things, Fruit Tree was one of the groups behind Emma Stone‘s surprise hit, The Curse, a satirical black comedy thriller starring Stone and writer/comedian Nathan Fielder. If anything, Stone’s eclectic Fruit Tree projects have two things in common: her seal of approval and the fact that they are singular, exciting works.
Source: Rotten Tomatoes