Aubrey Plaza is returning to the big screen nearly eight months after her husband Jeff Baena died at the age of 47.
On Wednesday, May 7, Focus Features released the official trailer for the actress’ new movie titled Honey Don’t!, which opens with Plaza as a police officer complimenting a private investigator (Margaret Qualley).
The dark comedy — written by Ethan Coen and Tricia Cooke — centers around Honey O’Donahue (Qualley), a small-town P.I. delving into a series of strange deaths tied to a mysterious church.
Chris Evans stars as the corrupt religious leader at the center of Qualley’s investigation, while Plaza, 40, plays a key “mystery woman” involved with the police department.
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“I just love Ethan Coen and Tricia Cooke so damn much and love being on their set,” Qualley, 30, told IndieWire in January. “I can hardly put into words how special making that movie was for me and working with Aubrey Plaza, who is one of my favorite actors and people of all time.”
Although the project was first announced in January 2024, Honey Don’t! will mark Plaza’s first movie to hit the silver screen since the passing of her late husband.
“It is with profound sadness and grief that we announce the sudden and unexpected death of Jeff Baena, a beloved son, husband, brother, uncle and friend to many,” Baena’s obituary, which was published in the Miami Herald, read. “Jeff left us too soon but despite his woefully too-short life, he left us with treasured memories of a gifted filmmaker, as well as a very special person on so many different levels.”
In addition to his work, which often included collaborations with Plaza, Baena also “loved the company of his friends.”
“Jeff was a true relationship builder with a gift for bringing people together on and off the movie set,” the obit said. “His magic sauce was ensuring everyone was having fun and no one ever left his get-togethers as a stranger.”
Since Baena’s passing, Plaza has deleted her Instagram and largely stayed out of the public eye except for a rare public appearance at Saturday Night Live’s 50th anniversary special in February.
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In addition to Honey Don’t!, Plaza is also set to star in Zach Woods’ upcoming film The Accompanist with Everly Carganilla and Susan Sarandon.
According to Deadline, who broke the news on Monday, May 5, Plaza will play a rookie child-welfare agent who is sent to investigate a child’s claim that her dementia-stricken grandpa almost got her family killed.
Honey Don’t! is scheduled to hit theatres everywhere on August 22.
