To say that Warren Beatty’s Howard Hughes biopic has been a long time coming may read as something of an understatement – Rules Don’t Apply has been incubating over at Paramount in some capacity since 2011 – but now, with little under a month until release, moviegoers are within touching distance of laying eyes on Beatty’s star-crossed Hollywood romance.
In what can very much be viewed as a passion project for the esteemed director, Beatty also assumes the role of Howard Hughes, legendary aviator and filmmaker who went on to become one of the wealthiest businessmen on the planet.
Yes, if Martin Scorsese’s The Aviator focused on the formative years of Hughes, Rules Don’t Apply turns attention to HH at his peak. Told through the lens of Lily Collins and Alden Ehrenreich’s lovestruck pair, this final trailer for Rules Don’t Apply bigs up the eccentricities of Hughes, and how they have a bearing on the budding relationship between Marla Mabrey (Collins) and Frank Forbes (Ehrenreich).
Rounding out the truly star-studded ensemble are Alec Baldwin, Annette Bening, Haley Bennett, Candice Bergen, Matthew Broderick, Dabney Coleman, Steve Coogan, Taissa Farmiga, Ed Harris, Megan Hilty, Oliver Platt, and Martin Sheen.
Lily Collins and Alden Ehrenreich will learn that Rules Don’t Apply when Warren Beatty’s long-in-development passion project finally makes its bow on November 23.
It’s Hollywood, 1958. Small town beauty queen and devout Baptist virgin Marla Mabrey (Collins), under contract to the infamous Howard Hughes (Beatty), arrives in Los Angeles. At the airport, she meets her driver Frank Forbes (Ehrenreich), who is engaged to be married to his 7th grade sweetheart and is a deeply religious Methodist. Their instant attraction not only puts their religious convictions to the test, but also defies Hughes’ #1 rule: no employee is allowed to have any relationship whatsoever with a contract actress. Hughes’ behavior intersects with Marla and Frank in very separate and unexpected ways, and as they are drawn deeper into his bizarre world, their values are challenged and their lives are changed.