‘Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die’ Teaser: Gore Verbinski’s First Film in Nine Years Is a Tongue-in-Cheek Sci-Fi Adventure
After a nine-year hiatus, “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “Rango” filmmaker Gore Verbinski is finally returning to directing. A teaser for his upcoming film, “Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die,” was released Wednesday, November 12 by Briarcliff Entertainment. In addition, it was announced that the film had been moved back a few weeks, from its initial January 30 release date to February 13, 2026.
Sam Rockwell stars as a man claiming to be from the far-flung future Earth that has fallen into apocalypse and ruin. As the movie begins, he holds up a diner in Los Angeles, searching for recruits to help him save the world from devastation. The teaser teases some modern-day cultural commentary, as the apocalypse seems to involve the increasing power of artificial intelligence, as well as an irreverent tone that mixes action with humor.
Alongside Rockwell, “Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die” also stars a large ensemble cast that includes Haley Lu Richardson, Michael Peña, Zazie Beetz, Asim Chandhry, Tom Taylor, and Juno Temple. The film was written by Matthew Robinson, who is best known for writing and directing the 2009 rom-com “The Invention of Lying” and also wrote the script for 2019’s “Dora and the Lost City of Gold.” Verbinski produces the film with Robert Kulzer, Erwin Stoff, Oly Obst, and Denise Chamian.
Verbinski made his feature directorial debut with “Mouse Hunt,” a 1997 family comedy starring Nathan Lane and Lee Evans. He rose to greater prominence in the early 2000s, when he directed the successful American remake of the iconic Japanese horror film “The Ring,” as well as the first three entries in the wildly popular “Pirates of the Caribbean” film series. In 2011, he was nominated for an Oscar for his acclaimed animated Western film “Rango.” Other films he directed include 2001 rom-com “The Mexican” and 2005 comedy “The Weather Man.” In 2013, he directed a film remake of the popular pulp hero “The Lone Ranger,” which was panned critically and become a box office bomb. His last film was 2016’s “A Cure for Wellness,” a psychological horror starring Dane DeHaan, Jason Isaacs, and Mia Goth.
“Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die” made its world premiere at the 2025 Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas this past September. Watch the full teaser for the film below.
