The Friend: Naomi Watts Forms a Heartfelt Bond with a Great Dane in Emotional Trailer

The emotional trailer for The Friend has been released, showcasing Naomi Watts in a poignant role as she adopts her late best friend’s beloved Great Dane. Based on Sigrid Nunez’s acclaimed novel, the film stars Watts as Iris, a woman grappling with the loss of her mentor, Walter, played by Bill Murray. Walter leaves his loyal four-legged companion, Apollo, to Iris in his will, and the pair's initially rocky relationship serves as the heart of the story.

Directed and written by David Siegel and Scott McGehee, The Friend portrays the healing journey that begins with an unlikely bond between Iris and the massive dog. As shown in the Sharon Van Etten-scored trailer, their relationship evolves from an awkward start to a touching friendship, proving that sometimes, the most beautiful connections are born from grief.

Joining Watts and Murray in the film are Carla Gugino (The Fall of the House of Usher), Constance Wu (Hustlers), Noma Dumezweni (The Undoing), Ann Dowd (The Handmaid’s Tale), Felix Solis (Unfrosted), Sarah Pidgeon (Tiny Beautiful Things), and Owen Teague (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes).

The Friend will be hitting select New York cinemas on March 28 before its wide release on April 4.