Netflix Unveils ‘Leave the World Behind’ Trailer: A Star-Studded Apocalypse Arrives This December

Sam Esmail, the creator of “Mr. Robot,” has taken the director’s chair for the upcoming Netflix apocalypse thriller, “Leave the World Behind.” Netflix has just released the full official trailer for the film.

“Leave the World Behind” boasts a star-studded cast featuring Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke, and Mahershala Ali. In the movie, Roberts and Hawke play a couple on vacation, and their idyllic getaway takes a nightmarish turn when the world begins to crumble.

Kevin Bacon and Myha’la are also part of the impressive ensemble cast, adding to the movie’s star power. You can catch the brand-new official trailer above.

“Leave the World Behind” is set to arrive on Netflix on December 8, 2023, but it will hit movie theaters nationwide a bit earlier, on November 22, 2023. The film is an adaptation of the 2020 novel written by Rumaan Alam.

The storyline revolves around a family, portrayed by Julia Roberts and Ethan Hawke, whose vacation is disrupted when two strangers, played by Mahershala Ali and Myha’la, seek refuge from a growing cyberattack. As the chaos escalates, everyone is forced to confront their roles in a world on the brink of collapse.

Speaking about the disaster genre, Esmail stated in a recent interview with Vanity Fair, “The disaster genre is one of my favorite genres, and the trick that we did in this film that differs from most disaster films is that in that genre, the focus—the priority of the storytelling—is on the set pieces.” He added that in this film, character development takes precedence over spectacle, with the disaster serving as a backdrop rather than the central focus.

Notably, the film has the backing of producers Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, adding a further layer of anticipation to this high-profile project.