Tony Kaye, the acclaimed British director behind American History X and Detachment, is directing a new five-minute short film titled Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? The project combines elements of documentary and reality drama, set against the backdrop of oversized monster sculptures currently installed throughout Leicester, England. Produced by Hiu Man Chan, a film entrepreneur and academic at De Montfort University, the production adopts an experimental and collaborative approach. It pairs Kaye with emerging actors and filmmakers from the university and the wider Leicester creative scene.
The narrative will evolve around the selected cast and participants, capturing chance encounters and genuine human experiences. The film aims to investigate whether people can understand and love one another despite their differences. Shooting is scheduled to commence on Friday, with Louis Lingjaerde, known for his work on Vipers, serving as the cinematographer. The setting draws from Leicester Monsters, a downtown initiative by BID Leicester that placed giant creatures in public spaces to encourage visitors to explore the city center. These sculptures were installed by the Bristol-based company Designs in Air.
Kaye explained that the project revisits an image from a commercial he directed forty years ago for solid fuel, featuring a dog, a cat, and a mouse kissing before a coal fire set to the song Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow. He noted that he has never forgotten that image and sees the Leicester Monsters film as a return to that concept. Kaye suggested that perhaps the universe is the real coal fire, with humans acting as animals gathered around it trying to figure out how to love one another. He described the central question of the film as simple yet impossible: how can everyone get along forever?
Leicester is frequently cited as one of the most diverse cities in the United Kingdom. The short film intends to leverage this diversity, using the surreal presence of giant creatures to probe the tension between difference and belonging, as well as freedom and commitment. Chan expressed his passion for storytelling centered on love and his desire to challenge conventional filmmaking through unique projects like this one. He highlighted his anticipation for the creative journey with Kaye, whom he described as one of Britain's greatest talents, aiming to put the city of Leicester in motion.
Kaye's career includes significant achievements beyond this upcoming short. His 1998 debut feature, American History X, addressed racism and redemption, earning Edward Norton an Oscar nomination for best actor. His 2011 film Detachment, starring Adrien Brody, secured the Critics' Award and Revelation Prize at the Deauville American Film Festival, along with the Best Artistic Contribution Award at the Tokyo International Film Festival. He also directed the 2006 documentary Lake of Fire.
The release of American History X was historically contentious. Kaye had a falling out with New Line Cinema and Norton regarding the film's edit. The theatrical version, which Norton helped cut, was longer than Kaye's original 95-minute vision. In response, Kaye spent approximately $100,000 on advertisements in Hollywood trade publications like Variety, some of which criticized Norton and the studio. The Directors Guild of America rejected his request to replace his directing credit with a pseudonym such as Humpty Dumpty. Kaye subsequently sued the guild and New Line for $200 million, a case that was dismissed in 2000.
Kaye later revisited this saga in Humpty Dumpty X, a 74-minute documentary constructed from camcorder footage he shot during the dispute, including phone calls with studio executives. The film, which also features Marlon Brando, had its world premiere in the Spotlight Documentary section of this year's Tribeca Festival. Outside of feature films, Kaye established a reputation in music videos and commercials, with ad work spanning campaigns for Nike, Volvo, Dunlop, British Rail, and the aforementioned solid fuel spot.
Sources: Variety.