Naomi Watts Jokes She Was Cast inThe FriendBecause She Knows Bill Murray: 'That's Why They Called Me' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Bill Murray and Naomi Watts on Aug. 30, 2024.Photo:Vivien Killilea/GettyNaomi WattsandBill Murraycame as something of a package deal in their new movie.The two real-life friends play onscreen pals inThe Friend, which recently screened at the the 2024Toronto International Film Festival. Watts, 55, jokes to PEOPLE that the producers cast her as a way to get to Murray.“They mentioned his name, and at first I was like, ‘Oh, god, that’s why they called me. Because they want to get to Bill,’ " Watts says. “Because people know that I know him, and we’ve worked together.““But when they said that, it just was an aha moment and I couldn’t see it any other way. I was determined, so I made the call,” she adds. “Well, I texted him first, and I wasn’t even sure if he’d reply. Sometimes people like that change their phone numbers frequently.“Naomi Watts and Bill Murray.Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty; Michael Loccisano/WireImageWatts and Murray first worked together on the 2014 movieSt. Vincentand have been friends since. “It means the world. It’s very lovely, and we do have a very special friendship,” she adds of Murray answering her call to star alongside her in the drama, based on authorSigrid Nunez’s 2018 novel of the same name.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.“And I love that this story centers around friendships, because not many stories do. If it’s a relationship movie, it’s often romance or family dynamics,” Watts tells PEOPLE. “And friendship is something that’s a very powerful thing. As you get older, it becomes more and more meaningful. So yeah, it makes sense. I have that kind of friendship with Bill, too.“Naomi Watts and Bill Murray on Aug. 31, 2024.Paul Best/GettyAside from Watts and Murray, the new movie from filmmakers Scott McGehee and David Siegel also stars Sarah Pidgeon, Carla Gugino, Constance Wu, Nova Dumezweni, Ann Dowd, Felix Solis, Owen Teague andBing the Great Dane.InThe Friend, Watts plays a woman named Iris who assumes responsibility for many of her late friend Walter’s (Murray) possessions after his sudden death — including his dog.The movie made its world premiere at the 2024Telluride Film Festival.

Bill Murray and Naomi Watts on Aug. 30, 2024.Photo:Vivien Killilea/Getty

Vivien Killilea/Getty

Naomi WattsandBill Murraycame as something of a package deal in their new movie.The two real-life friends play onscreen pals inThe Friend, which recently screened at the the 2024Toronto International Film Festival. Watts, 55, jokes to PEOPLE that the producers cast her as a way to get to Murray.“They mentioned his name, and at first I was like, ‘Oh, god, that’s why they called me. Because they want to get to Bill,’ " Watts says. “Because people know that I know him, and we’ve worked together.““But when they said that, it just was an aha moment and I couldn’t see it any other way. I was determined, so I made the call,” she adds. “Well, I texted him first, and I wasn’t even sure if he’d reply. Sometimes people like that change their phone numbers frequently.“Naomi Watts and Bill Murray.Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty; Michael Loccisano/WireImageWatts and Murray first worked together on the 2014 movieSt. Vincentand have been friends since. “It means the world. It’s very lovely, and we do have a very special friendship,” she adds of Murray answering her call to star alongside her in the drama, based on authorSigrid Nunez’s 2018 novel of the same name.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.“And I love that this story centers around friendships, because not many stories do. If it’s a relationship movie, it’s often romance or family dynamics,” Watts tells PEOPLE. “And friendship is something that’s a very powerful thing. As you get older, it becomes more and more meaningful. So yeah, it makes sense. I have that kind of friendship with Bill, too.“Naomi Watts and Bill Murray on Aug. 31, 2024.Paul Best/GettyAside from Watts and Murray, the new movie from filmmakers Scott McGehee and David Siegel also stars Sarah Pidgeon, Carla Gugino, Constance Wu, Nova Dumezweni, Ann Dowd, Felix Solis, Owen Teague andBing the Great Dane.InThe Friend, Watts plays a woman named Iris who assumes responsibility for many of her late friend Walter’s (Murray) possessions after his sudden death — including his dog.The movie made its world premiere at the 2024Telluride Film Festival.

Naomi WattsandBill Murraycame as something of a package deal in their new movie.

The two real-life friends play onscreen pals inThe Friend, which recently screened at the the 2024Toronto International Film Festival. Watts, 55, jokes to PEOPLE that the producers cast her as a way to get to Murray.

“They mentioned his name, and at first I was like, ‘Oh, god, that’s why they called me. Because they want to get to Bill,’ " Watts says. “Because people know that I know him, and we’ve worked together.”

“But when they said that, it just was an aha moment and I couldn’t see it any other way. I was determined, so I made the call,” she adds. “Well, I texted him first, and I wasn’t even sure if he’d reply. Sometimes people like that change their phone numbers frequently.”

Naomi Watts and Bill Murray.Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty; Michael Loccisano/WireImage

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty; Michael Loccisano/WireImage

Watts and Murray first worked together on the 2014 movieSt. Vincentand have been friends since. “It means the world. It’s very lovely, and we do have a very special friendship,” she adds of Murray answering her call to star alongside her in the drama, based on authorSigrid Nunez’s 2018 novel of the same name.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“And I love that this story centers around friendships, because not many stories do. If it’s a relationship movie, it’s often romance or family dynamics,” Watts tells PEOPLE. “And friendship is something that’s a very powerful thing. As you get older, it becomes more and more meaningful. So yeah, it makes sense. I have that kind of friendship with Bill, too.”

Naomi Watts and Bill Murray on Aug. 31, 2024.Paul Best/Getty

Paul Best/Getty

Aside from Watts and Murray, the new movie from filmmakers Scott McGehee and David Siegel also stars Sarah Pidgeon, Carla Gugino, Constance Wu, Nova Dumezweni, Ann Dowd, Felix Solis, Owen Teague andBing the Great Dane.

InThe Friend, Watts plays a woman named Iris who assumes responsibility for many of her late friend Walter’s (Murray) possessions after his sudden death — including his dog.

The movie made its world premiere at the 2024Telluride Film Festival.

source: people.com