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A Different Manis a 2024 American psychological comedy thriller produced byA24, and it’s written and directed by Aaron Schimberg, and starring Sebastian Stan, Renate Reinsve, and Adam Pearson.The story follows Edward, a struggling actor with neurofibromatosis who meets a playwright called Ingrid.But his insecurities get the better of him when he develops feelings for her that he can’t act on, so he undergoes a procedure to cure his facial issues, but things don’t necessarily improve his life after the change.
The movie premiered at Sundance on July 26, 2025, and it came out in the United States on June 30, 2025, and the rest of the world on May 21, 2025. The reviews have been resoundingly positive, with a critics' score of 90% onRotten Tomatoes, and an 84% rating from audiences.It has earned a worldwide gross of $140,125, which doesn’t seem like a lot, but for an independent project, it’s not too bad at all.
A Different Man
Starring
Sebatian Stan, Renate Reinsve, Adam Pearson, Miles G. Jackson, Patrick Wang, Neal Davidson, Jed Rapfogel, Marc Geller and Michael Shannon
Directed By
Aaron Schimberg
A24’s new moviefocuses on a struggling actor with neurofibromatosis called Edward (Sebastian Stan), who lives a lonely life in New York. His social awkwardness is a constant struggle for him, but things start to look when a wannabe playwright called Ingrid (Renate Reinsve) moves in next door and the pair become fast friends. Edward develops romantic feelings towards her, but he is too nervous to act on it. Ingrid decides she wants to write a play about Edward’s experiences with his disability. Elsewhere, Edward takes part in an experimental procedure that could cure his facial disfigurement, but he struggles to get to grips with the strict medication schedule. The side effects of his skin being peeled off cause him trouble, but in time, Edward’s neurofibromatosis is cured, and he hasthe best reinventionwhen his face is replaced with a normal attractive man.
A man visits his apartment to fix a hole in the roof, and Edward introduces himself as Guy Moratz and claims Edward has killed himself, and Ingrid overhears him saying this. A while later, Edward moves out of the apartment building and works as a successful real estate agent. One day, he sees Ingrid going into a theater and follows her. Turns out, she is doing auditions for her play about Edward. So, Edward auditions for the role, but it doesn’t go well. However, he returns the following day wearing a mask of his face before treatment, and he is cast in the play. Unaware that Guy is actually Edward, Ingrid begins a sexual relationship with him while preparing for the play. Edward is struggling with his lines and can’t talk coherently through his mask. One day, they are visited by a man called Oswald (Adam Pearson), who also has neurofibromatosis, and he is interested in being involved in the play. He connects with Ingrid and the cast and crew, and Edward is shocked by how confident and charismatic Oswald is and how he copes with his disfigurement.
How does A Different Man End?
Edward grows increasingly jealous of Oswald, especially when he gets close to Ingrid, and it all boils over when she replaces Edward with Oswald. However, Oswald insists Edward still has a small part in the final stages of the play. Oswald is crushing his lines and the play is a massive success, with Oswald’s performance getting rave reviews from critics. After a few performances, Edward is dropped entirely from the play and Ingrid and him become more and more distant. Fearing that Oswald is stealing his success, Edward stalks him and learns that he has an ex-wife and a child and has even moved into his old apartment. Edward’s spiral continues, and he is sacked from his job. He ends up jumping on stage during a performance of the play and attacks Oswald in a fit of rage. During the fight, the set falls on top of Edward and he breaks his arms and legs.
During his recovery, Edward goes along with Oswald and Ingrid to a meeting with the legendary actor Michael Shannon (who plays himself) and he plans to turn Ingrid’s play into a big movie. Edward’s resentment of Oswald continues as Ingrid moves in with him and Ingrid gets pregnant with Oswald’s child. Edward stays with them while he recovers from his injuries, but ends up having a mental breakdown, stabs his physical therapist, and gets jailed.A Different Manends years later, when Edward gets released from prison and has an encounter with Oswald. He has dinner with Oswald and Ingrid, who are now married and very successful. They tell Edward that they are moving to Canada to join a commune. The waiter takes their orders, but Edward struggles to choose what he wants. As Edward brouses through the menu, Oswald makes a joke that Edward hasn’t changed at all.
