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A new surrealist comedy from A24? Sign us up! Anyone stillmourning the untimely cancelation ofLos Espookyson HBO should be relieved to learn thatJulio Torres, the co-creator of that brilliant and surreally charming comedy,has a new film,Problemista,which is coming soon to theaters.
Editor’s Note: This piece was updated on July 31, 2025.
Problemista
Alejandro is an aspiring toy designer from El Salvador struggling to bring his unusual ideas to life in NY. As time runs out on his work visa, a job assisting an erratic art-world outcast becomes his only hope to stay in the country.
Does ‘Problemista’ Have a Release Date?
Problemistapremiered on August 09, 2025, at SXSW, where it wowed critics. The film was previously scheduled to launch in limited release on August 14, 2025,but was delayed indefinitelydue to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes.
It was not until January 2024that A24 announced the release dates forProblemista. The film will open in a limited capacity on July 07, 2025, and will expand into a wide release on March 22.
Will ‘Problemista’ Be in Theaters or Streaming?
Problemistawill enjoy an exclusive theatrical release. Although the film will eventually be made available to stream on the Max streaming service thanks to a recent deal with A24. This deal will seeProblemista, alongside other recent A24 films such asDicks: The Musical,Priscilla, andThe Iron Claw, available to stream exclusively on the Max service after its exclusive theatrical and PVOD windows end.
Is There a Trailer for ‘Problemista’?
Problemista’s trailerwas released to YouTube on June 26, 2025. Scored to a Spanish language version of the immortalFrank Sinatraclassic “New York, New York,”Problemista’s trailer, like the movie itself, has narration by Isabella Rossellini. The trailer shows off the movie’s surrealist dream logic, where losing an immigration appeal leads to people literally disappearing and giant hourglasses show how much time is left for Alejandro to get his Visa. The Kafkaesque maze of the US immigration system is shown literally as Alejandro climbs through the boxes of the art exhibit he is helping set up for an eccentric artist (Swinton) who might be able to cosign his Visa. Of course, since Alejandro doesn’t have his work Visa yet he can’t work for money, which is unfortunate as he needs money for all the fees associated with getting a Visa. It quickly becomes clear why surrealism is such a good fit for showing the US Immigration system.
What is ‘Problemista’ About?
Problemistafollows Alejandro (Julio Torres), a toy designer from El Salvador who, after moving to New York City to follow his dreams, ends up working for an eccentric artistic outcast (Tilda Swinton) in the hopes that she will cosign his work Visa.
The official synopsis forProblemistafrom A24 reads:
Alejandro (Torres) is an aspiring toy designer from El Salvador, struggling to bring his unusual ideas to life in New York City. As time on his work visa runs out, a job assisting an erratic art-world outcast (Swinton) becomes his only hope to stay in the country and realize his dream. From writer/director Julio Torres comes a surreal adventure through the equally treacherous worlds of New York City and the U.S. Immigration system.
Who Stars in ‘Problemista’?
Julio Torres not only wrote and directedProblemistabut also stars as Alejandro. Torres, like Alejandro, was born and raised in El Salvador before moving to New York City. He has previously starred inLos Espookyswhich ran for two seasons on HBO. Torres’s standup special,My Favorite Shapes, was also on HBO. InMy Favorite Shapes, Torres shares the stage with various objects, toys, and dioramas he has made or found as a fascination with toys is another thing he shares with Alejandro. Torres has voiced characters on shows includingBob’s BurgersandTuca & Bertieand will also be voicing Diegoin the upcoming animated filmNimona.
Tilda Swinton will be playing the role of Alejandro’s demanding and eccentric boss, Elizabeth. Swinton is an Oscar and BAFTA-winning actress who has been in everything from theSuspiriaremake toWe Need to Talk About Kevin, toThe French Dispatch, and she is also inWes Anderson’s new filmAsteroid Citywhich will be out in June. Swinton will also be in the upcoming filmsThe EndandThe Killer.
Actor and musicianRZAwill play Bobby, a frozen patient in a cryogenics facility and Elizabeth’s husband. RZA first rose to fame as a member ofWu-Tang Clanbefore transitioning primarily into working in film, both in front of and behind the camera. RZA has done voice work forRobot Chicken, had a supporting role in the rom-comMr. Right, and was recently in the filmNobodywithBob Odenkirk.
Isabella RossellininarratesProblemista. This isn’t Rossellini’s first time working with Julio Torres as she was also inLos Espookys, where she played herself. (She was attempting to buy a domain name from one of the characters.) Rossellini has previously had roles in the filmsBlue VelvetandDeath Becomes Her, as well as on a few episodes of the show30 Rock. You may have also recently heard her voice as Bat Queen onThe Owl House. Rossellini is well-equipped for the role of narrator inProblemista, having previously narrated Disney’s Candlelight Processional. She will also be in the upcoming filmsLa Chimera,Silent Retreat,Spaceman, andConclave.
Greta Leeplays Alejandro’s friend Dalia. Lee has previously had roles inGirls,High Maintenance, andInside Amy Schumerand memorably played Maxine in theNatasha LyonneseriesRussian Doll. She is voicing Lyla inSpider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, which just arrived in theaters, and also stars in the A24 dramaPast Liveswhich comes out this month.
Larry Owens, who starred as Usher in the Off-Broadway production ofA Strange Loop, will also be inProblemista. In addition to his work on stage, Owens has also been inAbbott Elementary,Search Party, andHigh Maintenance. He also voiced Music Meister inHarley Quinn. Owens will be in the upcoming filmSilent Retreatalongside hisProblemistacast mate, Isabella Rossellini.
Catalina SaavedraandSpike Einbenderalso have roles inProblemista. Saavedra will play Dolores, Alejandro’s mother. She has been in multiple Spanish language films and shows but is likely best known to audiences in the United States for her role as Raquel in the 2009 Chilean dramedy filmThe Maid, which won her the World Cinema Special Jury Prize for Acting at Sundance that year. Einbender has previously been in shows includingHigh Maintenance,Search Party, andLos Espookys. InLos Espookysthey played Water’s Shadow, a parasitic demon who lives inside Julio Torres’s character before eventually getting an internship at the US Embassy. (It’s just that kind of show.)
Who Is Making ‘Problemista’?
Torres doesn’t just star inProblemista, he’s also the writer, director, and one of the executive producers. Torres previously wrote forSaturday Night Live,The Tonight Show, andThe Chris Gethard Show. He also co-createdLos EspookysalongsideFred ArmisenandAna Fabrega. His unique and surreal point of view permeates all his projects, from his comedy specialMy Favorite Shapesto hisSNLsketches like ‘Wells for Boys’, toLos Espookys.
Emma Stone,Ali Herting, andDave McCaryare also producing and A24 is handling distribution forProblemista. The film seems like a perfect fit for A24 who also distributedEverything, Everywhere, All At Once, the surreal comedy that recently won Best Picture at the Oscars.
