Green Day have ventured into filmmaking with their upcoming comedy New Years Rev, which they’ve confirmed will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 12th.
The road trip comedy, directed by Lee Kirk, follows three best friends who believe they’ve scored the opportunity to open for the legendary punk rock trio at a New Year’s Eve concert, unaware that the whole situation is an elaborate prank.
The film stars Mason Thames, Kylr Coffman, and Ryan Foust as the Analog Dogs, a garage band from Kansas who embark on a cross-country journey to California with dreams of performing alongside their musical heroes. The premise draws directly from Green Day’s own experiences during their early years, when the band spent countless nights sleeping in their tour van and driving between venues for the chance to play music with their closest mates.
Kirk, who also penned the screenplay, crafted a story that captures the naive optimism of young musicians chasing their dreams. The plot revolves around the trio’s determination to deliver a demo to Green Day, leading to what they perceive as their big break. However, the opportunity to open for the band is actually a cruel joke orchestrated by one of their brothers.
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More than a dozen Green Day songs feature throughout the film, creating a soundtrack that spans the band’s extensive catalogue. The movie also boasts an impressive supporting cast including McKenna Grace, Fred Armisen, Jenna Fischer, Angela Kinsey, and Bobby Lee, adding comedic weight to the production.
Green Day produced the film alongside Tim Perell, Jolene, Stella Bulochnikov, Robin Rapino, Ryan Kroft, and Anna Keegan. The band described the project as their “love letter to all of our favourite road trip movies, ’90s nostalgia, and chasing it all no matter how ridiculous it gets.”
The production sought authentic punk rock atmosphere during filming, with casting calls specifically requesting “punks, emo, hardcore, alternative and rocker young adults” aged 18-30 for a pop-up rock show scene. The casting notice promised participants “live music, skateboarding, and a rowdy good time.”
Green Day teased that the Toronto premiere represents just the beginning of their promotional plans for the film.
