The first promo for Waltzing with Brando last year felt like a rough cut slapped together for a market screening. It was all awkward pauses and a tone that couldn't decide between reverence and farce. I wrote it off. Thankfully, director Bill Fishman seems to have found his rhythm in the final stretch. The new official trailer for the film is a different beast entirely—a genuinely funny, visually lush, and curiously compelling sell for one of Hollywood's oddest true stories.
This one opens not on Zane, but on the paradise itself. The palette is all deep blues and lush greens, selling the dream of Tetiaroa before we even see the dreamer. And when we do see him, Billy Zane doesn't just mimic Brando; he captures a specific, late-career energy—the combination of immense gravitational star power and a whimsical, almost childlike eccentricity. The premise, for those who missed the book, is stranger than fiction: at the height of his fame, Brando recruited a relatively unknown L.A. architect, Bernard Judge, to help him build an eco-perfect retreat on his remote Tahitian atoll.
The trailer wisely focuses on the comedy of this colossal mismatch. We see Zane's Brando making increasingly ridiculous, visionary demands—”I want a bedroom that rotates with the sun!”—while a perpetually bewildered architect (played by a perfectly cast Jon Heder) tries to translate genius into blueprints. The humor lands because it feels born of character, not a screenwriter's need for a punchline. It's the comedy of a man so used to getting what he wants that the laws of physics feel like a minor inconvenience.
What makes this trailer work where the first failed is its confidence. It knows it's a comedy. It leans into the absurdity of the situation—the women, the wildlife, the sheer logistical nightmare of it all—without losing sight of the sincere, almost noble ambition at its core. The brief glimpses of Richard Dreyfuss and Tia Carrere promise a solid supporting cast, but this is Zane's show. He's not doing a Godfather impression; he's channeling the mercurial, brilliant, and frustrating man described in Judge's memoirs. It's a performance that looks like it understands the assignment.
The project has the right pedigree. Adapted from Judge's own book and directed by music video veteran Bill Fishman, it has the feel of a passion project, not a studio committee product. That authenticity bleeds through in the trailer's best moments, whether it's Brando philosophizing about nature or simply struggling to open a coconut.
So, does it look any good? Surprisingly, yes. It looks like a charming, offbeat comedy with a heart and a spectacular backdrop. It's a story about clashing egos and shared dreams, set against one of the most beautiful places on earth. I'm considerably more interested now than I was a year ago.
Iconic Releasing will debut Waltzing with Brando in select U.S. theaters starting September 19, 2025.
What Makes This Brando Biopic Different
The Unlikely True Story
This isn't a cradle-to-grave biopic but a focused snapshot based on the architect's firsthand account, offering a unique, ground-level view of Brando's off-screen life.
Billy Zane's Nuanced Portrayal
Zane appears to bypass mere imitation, instead capturing Brando's particular blend of magnetic charm, intellectual curiosity, and glorious eccentricity during his Tahitian years.
A Shift in Tone
The official trailer successfully corrects the course from the awkward first promo, presenting a confident and genuinely humorous comedy that embraces the absurdity of its premise.
The Scenery as a Character
The film leverages its stunning Polynesian setting not just as a backdrop but as a central narrative force, representing both the dream Brando is chasing and the obstacle he must overcome.
Eco-Conscious Themes
Beneath the comedy lies a prescient thread about environmentalism and the challenge of building in paradise without destroying the very thing you love.
What's your take? Does Billy Zane have what it takes to channel one of the most complex figures in cinema history, or is this a waltz best skipped? Check out the trailer above and share your thoughts in the comments.
Sources:
- Official Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iox_OxwgNVE
