Magazine Dreams is finally coming to theaters. After being shelved for two years, the intriguing bodybuilding film’s long-awaited debut has been announced, and its trailer has dropped. Here’s the story.
DREAMS DEFERRED
Way back in January 2023, Magazine Dreams, which stars Jonathan Majors as an aspiring competitive bodybuilder, was a hit at the Sundance Film Festival. Following a bidding war by several major distributors, Searchlight Pictures bought the rights and scheduled a theatrical release for December 2023. But after domestic violence charges were filed against Majors, Searchlight dropped the independent film. Majors was convicted of misdemeanor assault and second degree harassment and acquitted of other charges and sentenced to probation and a domestic violence intervention program. (A civil case against him by his accuser was dropped last November.)
Meanwhile, the movie’s rights reverted back to the filmmakers and were sold to Briarcliff Entertainment, which now plans to release Magazine Dreams on March 21. It could mark the first step in a comeback for Jonathan Majors, who was on the verge of superstardom two years ago. And it will be a long-delayed introduction for the movie’s writer/director, Elijah Bynum.
WHAT IS MAGAZINE DREAMS?
Magazine Dreams is a portrait of a tormented man, Killian Maddox (Jonathan Majors), who aspires to be a famous bodybuilder. It’s an exploration of celebrity and violence that follows a loner struggling to connect, kind of a bodybuilding version of Taxi Driver or Joker. Like another recent indie film, Love Lies Bleeding, it doesn’t seem like a very positive view of bodybuilding. Unlike Love Lies Bleeding, which is set in 1989, we don’t think Magazine Dreams is a period piece, which makes us wonder about the title. Killian Maddox dreams of being on the cover of a muscle magazine, which was certainly the dream of aspiring bodybuilders a decade or more ago. But the major muscle magazines are long gone now. Maybe Olympia Dreams would be a better title or something like A Million Followers.
Title aside, we’re intrigued by Magazine Dreams, which was well-received at Sundance. Certainly, some people build up their bodies in an attempt to shield themselves from emotional pain. Popular bodybuilder Mike O’Hearn plays Killian Maddox’s idol, Brad Vanderhorn (whitest name ever). Two-time Classic Physique Mr. Olympia Breon Ansley flexes. And Jonathan Majors stuck to a contest bodybuilding diet and workout plan for four months to transform his already muscular physique. Those were enough reasons to pique our interest, but the hyper-intense trailer sealed it.
