What is Zac Efron and Nicole Kidman movie before Netflix’s A Family Affair? Plot and roles explored

Netflix took the internet by surprise after releasing an official trailer for the next Zac Efron and Nicole Kidman movie. The film, titled A Family Affair, will be releasing on June 28, 2024, via Netflix itself. A Family Affair is slated to be a romantic comedy starring Efron and Kidman, with other actors like Joey King, Liza Koshy and Kathy Bates.

However, this is not the first time a Zac Efron and Nicole Kidman movie is coming on screen. Before A Family Affair, the two actors have also acted in The Paperboy, a crime drama released in 2012. The Paperboy revolves around a murder case involving a death row inmate, which is certainly a very different genre as compared to their upcoming film.

Let us explore these two films and their plot, roles, genres and more.

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What was Zac Efron and Nicole Kidman movie before A Family Affair?

Zac Efron and Nicole Kidman acted together in The Paperboy (2012) before reuniting for A Family Affair over a decade later. Their previous film is an American crime drama film involving a death row inmate convicted for a murder case in Florida.

The film had an ensemble cast, including:

• Matthew McConaughey as Ward Jansen
• Zac Efron as Jack Jansen
• Nicole Kidman as Charlotte Bless
• John Cusack as Hillary Van Wetter
• Scott Glen as W.W. Jansen
• David Oyelowo as Yardley Acheman
• Macy Gray as Anita Chester
• Ned Bellamy as Tyree Van Wetter
• Nealla Gordon as Ellen Guthrie

The story arc of the film is that Florida reporter Ward Jansen (McConaughey) finds out about a death row inmate who was declared guilty of the murder of a racist lawman. Ward returns to his hometown to write a story about the inmate Hillary Van Wetter (Cusack), hiring his younger brother Jack Jansen (Efron) as his driver.

Zac Efron, Nicole Kidman, and Matthew McConaughey at an event for The Paperboy (via IMDb)

Ward and his partner Yardley Acheman (Oyelowo) try to work through the possibility that Hillary is actually innocent and might have been framed. Ward and Yardley also ask for help from a mysterious Charlotte Bless (Kidman), whom Jack starts falling for, even though she is devoted to Hillary. The film progresses with many unexpected turns, plot twists and a rather tragic ending.

While the film received lukewarm reviews from critics, the first Zac Efron and Nicole Kidman movie paved the way towards their upcoming film, and the actors put a lot of heart into their respective roles.

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What is Zac Efron and Nicole Kidman movie A Family Affair about?

The next Zac Efron and Nicole Kidman movie after The Paperboy is Netflix's A Family Affair. It is directed by Richard LaGravenese and written by Carrie Solomon.

From what it appears from the trailer, A Family Affair focuses on a young girl Zara (Joey King) who is working as an assistant for Hollywood star Chris Cole (Zac Efron). She really hates her job because of her self-absorbed boss. Zara's anger and confusion only grow when she discovers unexpectedly that her boss and her mother (Nicole Kidman) are in a secret relationship.

The movie promises much confusion, comic instances, and steamy romance, dotted with wholesome moments depicting a chaotic but honest mother-daughter relationship too.

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A Family Affair will be released on Netflix on June 28, 2024.