Former Saturday Night Live cast member Bill Hader has experienced tremendous success since leaving the late night show. His series Barry captured several Emmy Awards on its way to becoming a pop culture touchstone. Hader starred as the lead, wrote, produced, and directed 18 episodes of Barry for HBO.
Now Hader is turning his directorial skills to the large screen for his first motion picture. The film, titled They Know, is a psychological thriller that completed filming last month. It’s possible They Know, which stars Hader and Linda Cardellini, could be in theaters before the end of 2026.
According to MRC, the company financing the film, They Know will center around a father (Hader) who fears his ex-wife’s (Cardellini) new husband is having a horrifying impact on his daughters. It’s an original screenplay written by Hader. Young actors Lilou Lang and Lorelei Olivia Mote play the children.
Hader and Robert Graf are producers, with Alyssa Donovan serving as co-producer. The film, which is being touted as a “thriller” adjacent to the horror genre, will be issued under MRC’s Hanarply brand.
Principle photography wrapped in early June. That could mean that Hader and the team working on the film may have a movie for release in time for Thanksgiving or Christmas.
This won’t be Hader’s first appearance in a major motion picture. He’s provided voice work for several movies, including Toy Story 4 and Finding Dory. He’s had roles in Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian and Superbad, but this will be Hader’s first time as a leading man in a major film.
Few SNL cast members have had a more successful career after leaving Studio 8H than Hader, who is known for his uncanny impressions and voice work. His most notable character on SNL was Stefon, the eccentric New Yorker who provided reviews of the hippest and craziest night spots in the city. Hader’s Barry was nominated for 54 Emmy Awards, and won nine. Hader won a pair of Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (2018, 2019). He co-wrote the series with famed comedy writer Alec Berg.
