Blue Moon cast and character guide: Who plays whom in the latest biographical drama starring Ethan Hawke

Blue Moon premiered at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival, and it was released theatrically on October 17, 2025, by Sony Pictures Classics.

Richard Linklater is the director, while Robert Kaplow is the writer. It's produced by John Sloss, Mike Blizzard and Linklater. Here is the official synopsis as per Letterboxd:

"On the evening of March 31, 1943, legendary lyricist Lorenz Hart confronts his shattered self-confidence in Sardi’s bar as his former collaborator Richard Rodgers celebrates the opening night of his ground-breaking hit musical “Oklahoma!”."

Lat's take a look at the film's cast and characters.

Blue Moon cast and character guide explored

1) Ethan Hawke as Lorenz Hart

Ethan Hawke plays the role of Lorenz Hart, a songwriter who left the opening night of his musical Oklahoma!. The character is inspired by the real-life Hart. In the film, he arrives at a restaurant where he reflects on his life. Hawke has had a long career in Hollywood, having acted in titles like Dead Poets Society, the Before trilogy and Sinister, among others.

2) Andrew Scott as Richard Rodgers

Andrew Scott plays the real-life composer Richard Rodgers in Blue Moon. He worked in musical theatres and frequently collaborated with Lorenz Hart. Scott has appeared in television shows like Fleabag and Sherlock as well as films like 1917 and Spectre.

3) Margaret Qualley as Elizabeth Weiland

Margaret Qualley plays the role of Elizabeth Weiland, a student studying at Yale University. She is also a protégé of Hart. Qualley has acted in The Nice Guy, The Substance and Poor Things.

4) Other cast members of the film

Bobby Cannavale as Eddie
Anne Brogan as Frieda Hart
Jonah Lees as Morty Rifkin
Simon Delaney as Oscar Hammerstein II
John Doran as Weegee
Cillian Sullivan as Stephen Sondheim
Patrick Kennedy as E. B. White

More about Blue Moon

Blue Moon is produced under the banners of Detour Filmproduction, Renovo Media Group, Wild Atlantic Pictures, Cinetic Media, Not To Be Seen Productions, Under the Influence Productions and Concord Originals. After its premiere at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival, Andrew Scott was bestowed with the Silver Bear for Best Supporting Performance.

In an NPR interview, Hawke spoke about how the character dies of a heartbreak in the film throughout its runtime.

"Basically, we're watching a human being die of a heartbreak in 90 minutes."

He added,

"The thing he's really suffering from is this breakup with Richard Rodgers. But that hurts so much that he can't really look at it. He's impaling himself on a different spike because that's one he can handle - unrequited love. I think there's desperation from him to prove that he is 'normal.' And if she would just love him back then, he would magically be normal."

Lorenz Hart passed away at the age of 48 on November 22, 1943. This took place nearly eight months after his play, Oklahoma!

Blue Moon released theatrically on October 17, 2025.