Kornél Mundruczó Re-Teams With Ellen Burstyn and Taika Waititi for Unlikely Romance 'Place to Be'

Kornél Mundruczó is officially back in business with Hollywood royalty. The acclaimed Hungarian filmmaker has lined up his next feature project, *Place to Be*, bringing legendary Oscar winner Ellen Burstyn along for the ride alongside multi-hyphenate fan favorite Taika Waititi. The director previously collaborated with Burstyn on his intense 2020 drama *Pieces of a Woman*, which earned significant awards buzz. Even though the cinema icon spent only two or three days filming her supporting role on that set, her electric screen presence made an instant, permanent impression on the filmmaker. According to a fresh report from Variety, Mundruczó walked away from that brief shoot knowing he desperately wanted to craft another movie entirely focused on her extraordinary talent. ## What is Place to Be about? The upcoming feature is being billed as an eccentric, highly original love story that subverts traditional Hollywood romance tropes. While exact plot points are still being kept under wraps by the creative team, the narrative brings together Burstyn and Waititi in an unconventional pairing—with an actual pigeon playing a crucial role in the story. Speaking over Zoom from Budapest, Mundruczó reflected on his desire to capture something completely fresh on camera. He expressed overwhelming love for Burstyn's historic body of work, explaining that their instant creative connection made a second project an absolute priority for his directorial career. ## Who stars in Place to Be? Heading up the cast is acting powerhouse Ellen Burstyn, whose illustrious career features iconic performances in cinematic masterpieces like *The Exorcist*, *The Last Picture Show*, and *Requiem for a Dream*. Joining her is *Thor: Ragnarok* director and Oscar-winning screenwriter Taika Waititi, who continues to balance his massive blockbuster commitments with idiosyncratic indie roles. The film also prominently features a live bird co-star, introducing a surrealist element to the emotional proceedings. Mundruczó’s vision reportedly aims to merge deep thematic resonance with unexpected humor, leaning into the captivating tension between his legendary lead actress and his comedic co-star. Film festival circuit watchers and indie cinema fans are keeping a very close eye on the project as further details emerge. With a heavy-hitting Oscar winner at the center and an unpredictable supporting cast, *Place to Be* promises to be one of the most intriguing indie features on the upcoming release calendar.