The Safdie Brothers have parted ways, Benny Safdie has confirmed in a new interview with Variety.
“It’s a natural progression of what we each want to explore,” Safdie said about the creative team’s split, which he insisted is amicable. “I will direct on my own, and I will explore things that I want to explore. I want that freedom right now in my life.”
When pressed by Variety about when he’ll direct with Josh again, Safdie replied, “I don’t know.” For now at least, he’s bowed out of co-directing the follow-up to Uncut Gems, which Safdie said is “on pause” anyway.
Safdie most recently co-created the Showtime series The Curse — one of the best TV shows of 2023 — alongside Nathan Fielder. He also stars in the reality show satire alongside Fielder and Emma Stone following acting roles in Licorice Pizza, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Oppenheimer.
Next up, Safdie will make his solo filmmaking debut with The Smashing Machine, an A24 biopic starring Dwayne Johnson as former UFC Mark Kerr.