MUBI has released the first official clip from The Mastermind, the latest feature from acclaimed director Kelly Reichardt, ahead of its world premiere in competition at the 78th Cannes Film Festival on May 23, 2025. The film marks a tonal departure for Reichardt, best known for her quiet, contemplative dramas such as First Cow and Certain Women. Set in 1970s Massachusetts, The Mastermind explores the unraveling of a low-level carpenter who attempts to orchestrate an art heist.
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Josh O’Connor stars as JB Mooney, a soft-spoken and aimless carpenter whose sudden turn toward crime ignites a slow-burning series of personal and moral consequences. The film is described as a character-driven heist story, steeped in Reichardt’s signature attention to detail and emotional subtlety. When Mooney’s plans begin to spiral, what begins as a caper transforms into a portrait of desperation, disillusionment, and the absurdity of chasing reinvention through chaos.
Joining O’Connor is an ensemble cast that includes Alana Haim (Licorice Pizza), John Magaro (First Cow, Past Lives), Gaby Hoffman (Transparent), Bill Camp (Joker, 12 Years a Slave), and Hope Davis (American Splendor). Each actor contributes to a textured representation of small-town life on the brink of dysfunction. In keeping with Reichardt’s past work, the film resists spectacle in favor of character nuance and atmosphere.
The Mastermind is produced by Neil Kopp, Anish Savjani, and Vincent Savino of filmscience, long-time collaborators of Reichardt. MUBI, which is financing the film and distributing it in key markets including North America, the UK, Ireland, LATAM, Germany, and India, continues its strategic push into auteur-led cinema with this high-profile Cannes entry.
This latest collaboration signals a continued evolution in Reichardt’s storytelling, combing her introspective style with genre tropes of the heist narrative. While the film retains her minimalist aesthetic and moral complexity, the inclusion of a robbery plot and comedic elements points to a more playful, unpredictable tone. MUBI’s first look clip offers viewers a glimpse of this tonal shift, showing O’Connor’s character caught in a quiet, awkward confrontation that hints at the film’s layered approach.
Release dates for The Mastermind in the UK and other international territories are expected to be announced following the film’s Cannes premiere. With its strong cast and atmospheric setting, The Mastermind stands as one of the most anticipated titles of this year’s festival circuit.
