My Dead Friend Zoe

My Dead Friend Zoe is a 2024 American war comedy-drama film written by Kyle Hausmann-Stokes and A. J. Bermudez, directed by Hausmann-Stokes and starring Sonequa Martin-Green, Natalie Morales, Ed Harris, Morgan Freeman, Gloria Reuben and Utkarsh Ambudkar. It is based on Hausmann-Stokes's short film Merit x Zoe. It is also Hausmann-Stokes's feature directorial debut. It premiered at South by Southwest on March 9, 2024, where it won the Audience Award, and is scheduled to be theatrically released in the United States on November 1, 2024, by Briarcliff Entertainment.

Cast

 * Sonequa Martin-Green as Merit
 * Natalie Morales as Zoe
 * Ed Harris as Dale
 * Morgan Freeman as Dr. Cole
 * Gloria Reuben as Kris
 * Utkarsh Ambudkar as Alex
 * Thom Tran as Rufus

Production
According to VARIETY, it's the first film co-financed using President Biden's green energy tax credits under an innovative structure deployed by Mike Field and Ray Maiello at Radiant Media Studios (Maiello is also a producer on the film). Radiant Media Studios brought Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce to the project as executive producer representing Kelce's first production credit. Legion M co-financed under their crowdfunding model.

In May 2023, it was announced that Harris, Martin-Green, and Morales were cast in the film. In June 2023, it was announced that Freeman, Reuben, and Ambudkar were cast in the film. Filming occurred in Portland, Oregon, Forest Grove, Oregon and Molalla, Oregon in 2023.

In September 2023, it was announced that filming wrapped.

Awards and Reception
The film won the Audience Award in competition at SXSW in 2024 and its reception has been highly positive. Top film critics (Variety, Deadline, IndieWire, Collider, Roger Ebert and Hollywood Reporter) have all published stellar reviews for the film. My Dead Friend Zoe currently has a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

"My Dead Friend Zoe is a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit" - Valerie Complex, Deadline

“Sonequa Martin-Green Is Giving One of the Year's Best Performances” - Matt Donato, Collider

“A powerful drama with a phenomenal performance at its core and another reminder that Ed Harris is one of our best living actors in its supporting cast.” – Brian Tallerico, Roger Ebert