“The cast is phenomenal.”
So says producer J.J. Abrams of Anne Hathaway, Ewan McGregor, Maisy Stella and Christian Convery, who, together, play a 1980s suburban family suddenly thrust into an adventure of prehistoric proportions in “The End of Oak Street.” “I’ve known Anne a little bit for a long time and have wanted to work with her forever. Ewan as well. So, this was a bit of a dream to get a chance to work with them both. The kids are wonderful as is the supporting cast,” says the filmmaker, who does know a thing or two about working with great ensembles, having directed films from the Star Wars and Star Trek franchises and, of course, being the creator of TV phenomenon Lost.
Director David Robert Mitchell was thrilled to have worked with the actors too. “I was so happy when I realized that both Anne and Ewan would be the husband and wife and the parents in this family,” shares Mitchell. “And the dynamic that they have, the chemistry that they have, the different shades that their personalities have were fantastic.”
Anne Hathaway as mom Denise Platt in “The End of Oak Street.”
Photo credit: Warner Bros. Pictures
Mitchell is excited for movie audiences to see a different side of Hathaway. “Anne is just an amazing actress,” says the director. “I knew she’d be incredible if we were lucky enough for her to do it. And it was one thing when we were doing the dramatic moments within the family story, but when we started to get to the suspense and danger and fear, she took it to another level, we all felt it, everyone watching. It was phenomenal, seeing her perform in that way. It was something that I hadn’t seen her do and it was really exciting. I can’t wait for audiences to see her doing this kind of role, the whole range in terms of strength, fear, pain, and all of that. It’s believable, it’s real.”
The respect is mutual. After seeing Mitchell’s “It Follows,” Hathaway asked to meet the filmmaker for lunch. Mitchell mentioned he had a future project in mind, but nearly eight years passed before the screenplay for “The End of Oak Street” finally arrived. Hathaway immediately connected with the script, beginning a collaboration that had been years in the making.
Ewan McGregor as dad Greg Platt in “The End of Oak Street.”
Photo credit: Warner Bros. Pictures
The director is also all praises of McGregor. “I was thrilled when Ewan agreed to play the role of Greg,” says Mitchell. “He brings a depth, a charm, a real love to this person who’s struggling about some elements of his life. Ewan portrays that, and it’s really wonderful, and also this really caring husband, this dad… There’s a really loveable, wonderful quality that he has that really allows you entrance into the family and you really connect with them and care.”
“Fighting with the dinosaurs was always fun to do,” says McGregor of the physical action he had to do in the film. “Annie and I had some really long runs to do – over gardens, down streets, jumping fences, running over peoples’ front yards, careful not to put our ankle down a hole. But we had fun doing that.”
Anne Hathaway flees from a dinosaur to save her family in “The End of Oak Street.”
Photo credit: Warner Bros. Pictures
One of the things Hathaway loves most about the film is the nostalgia. “One of the things I love about this film is that it does remind me of those wonderful films from the ’80s, which were almost like family horror movies,” she shares. “Movies that were full of suspense, movies that you could watch with your parents, they weren’t too scary for you. You felt grown up and sophisticated and mature that you got to watch this movie where things that were scary were going on. I remember loving that feeling when I was a kid in the ’80s and the ’90s.”
Abrams teases that ‘“The End of Oak Street” is a total thrill ride. I’ve seen it with audiences. They scream and laugh and cry and cheer. It’s the sort of film that reminds you why you go to the movies.”
Get ready for dinosaurs to move in when “The End of Oak Street” lands in cinemas on August 12. #EndofOakStreet in theaters and IMAX in North America on August 14, 2026, and internationally beginning 12 August 2026
