The Coen Brothers’ Next Film Is About a Fixer in 1950s Hollywood

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Apple Store Soho Presents Meet The Filmmakers: Joel Coen And Ethan Coen, "Inside Llewyn Davis"
(L-R) Ethan Coen and Joel Coen speak during Meet The Filmmakers: 'Inside Llewyn Davis' at the Apple Store Soho on November 25, 2013 in New York City.Astrid Stawiarz—Getty Images
By Eliana Dockterman

Joel and Ethan Coen’s next movie, Hail Caesar, won’t take place in Ancient Rome. According to Deadline, the film will follow a fixer in 1950s Hollywood who works for studios to protect their stars.

In the 1950s, it was common for big Hollywood names to sign multi-picture contracts with a single studio. In order to protect their assets, studios would hire fixers to create and protect a virtuous image for these actors. Fixers would use methods ranging from payoffs to manhandling in order to eliminate threats to a studio’s assets. It was no easy task—though certainly easier pre-social media.

The Coen brothers have won Oscars for No Country for Old Men and Fargo. Their latest movie, Inside Llewyn Davis starring Oscar Isaac was critically acclaimed but snubbed at the Academy Awards.

[Deadline]

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Write to Eliana Dockterman at eliana.dockterman@time.com