Frank Ocean begins filming movie starring David Jonsson
David Jonsson in 2024 (Photo: David Reiss).
Frank Ocean has begun shooting his directorial debut feature film in Mexico City, according to Variety. The movie will star British actor David Jonsson in its lead role. Although initial reports stated that Ocean was in negotiations with indie distributors A24 and 2AM, the film appears to be an independent production. Its plot and title are currently unknown, although the project is being referred to internally as Philly.
Ocean first forayed into filmmaking in 2016 with his visual album Endless, a 46-minute music video he wrote and directed; however, directing his first full-length feature film will present a new level of challenge and intrigue. The recording artist and movie buff has woven many movie references into his music throughout his career. Notably, in his 2016 magazine, Boys Don’t Cry, he included a list of his 100 favorite movies, from the 2006 flick ATL to classics like Dr. Strangelove (1964) and Fight Club (1999).
Update 2025-02-16:
At the 78th BAFTA Film Awards, David Jonsson was asked about the movie he is shooting with Frank Ocean; the actor replied:
All I can really say right now—and I promise you, there will be a time when I probably can say more—is that [Frank Ocean] is a very special person, and we’re making a very special thing. And I’m really proud to be in it.
Update 2025-07-30:
Job listings for extras have appeared on backstage.com, shedding light on a casino scene in the film. Shooting for Philly appears to be in its final stages, with reshoots scheduled for August 2025.
Reddit: u/mycargoesvarun, 2025-07-30.
Reddit: u/mycargoesvarun, 2025-07-30.
Reddit: u/mycargoesvarun, 2025-07-30.
Update 2025-08-14:
Ellen E. Jones at Empire Online asked David Jonsson about his role in Frank Ocean’s film. The actor was tight-lipped about his involvement, but his exchange with the reporter was nonetheless intriguing:
Have you started work on the Frank Ocean film yet?
Er… I don’t know how much I’m allowed to say.
I’ll just fire off some questions and you can politely demur, if you like. Do you and Frank Ocean have any favourite films in common?
Um… Yeah, go on. What did we talk about the other day…? We did bond over films. Frank is definitely a cinephile, as am I. We discussed [Gus Van Sant’s] My Own Private Idaho, although one minute he kind of likes it and the next he’s pointing out the things he would do differently, which I think is a sign of a good filmmaker, you know? How you take something and push it further. He definitely has that. We spoke about so many different films, [Gus Van Sant’s] Paranoid Park and a couple of Japanese movies, because I like Japanese movies.
The pressure of playing a person while being directed by that same person must be immense.
Um… that would imply that I’m doing… I’ll politely pass on that. But that was a good one, though! You almost got me… you almost got me.
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