Margaret Qualley is stepping into a new kind of spotlight — as a smooth, skillful lesbian private detective in the upcoming film Honey Don’t!, directed by Ethan Coen and Tricia Cooke. The actress, known for her versatility and recent role in The Substance, confirmed in an interview this week that she will lead the queer noir comedy alongside Aubrey Plaza, who plays an enigmatic “mystery woman.”
The film, described as a stylized and unapologetically queer take on the detective genre, is part of a trilogy of LGBTQ-themed B-movies conceived by the filmmaking duo Coen and Cooke. Honey Don’t! follows 2024’s Drive-Away Dolls, which also starred Qualley in a similarly offbeat and queer-centric role.
Unpacking the Plot
In an interview published Tuesday by i-D magazine, Qualley opened up about her character, Honey, revealing for the first time that the plot centers around the private investigator delving into the shady workings of a suspicious church — one that is led by a character portrayed by none other than Chris Evans.
Aubrey Plaza attends the 2023 Time100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 26, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/WireImage)
“Honey is like her name — she’s smooth, she’s skillful, and she knows how to slip in and out of places unnoticed,” Qualley told the magazine. “She’s calculated. She’s cool. She doesn’t lead with her emotions, and she never gets caught off guard.”
Qualley, who has earned critical praise for a wide range of performances, noted that playing Honey required her to rein in her usual comedic instincts.
“I tend to want to diffuse things before they even happen — I think I have a natural Scooby-Doo inclination,” she said with a laugh. “But Honey’s not that. She’s already three steps ahead.”
Aubrey Plaza Joins the Cast
Aubrey Plaza, who has become synonymous with mysterious, layered roles, joins the cast in what’s being described as a classic “mystery woman” part. While details of her character remain under wraps, fans of Plaza’s work are already expressing excitement over the casting.
“If there’s one thing Aubrey Plaza’s going to do well, it’s playing a character you can’t quite pin down,” one social media user wrote in response to the casting announcement earlier this year.
Margaret Qualley attends the 30th Annual Critics Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on February 07, 2025 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Plaza’s involvement adds a layer of intrigue and humor to a film already brimming with queer sensibilities and genre-bending ambition.
A Trilogy of Queer B-Movies
Honey Don’t! is the second installment in a planned trilogy from Coen and Cooke, a married creative team known for their unconventional storytelling and love for classic cinema. Their first entry, Drive-Away Dolls, was released in 2024 to positive reviews and praised for its mix of irreverent humor and queer representation.
In Drive-Away Dolls, Qualley played Jamie, a swaggering Texan lesbian with a knack for trouble. That role showcased a very different side of the actress than her dramatic turn in The Substance, a performance that is already being discussed as awards season material.
“It’s wild that both films came out in the same year,” Qualley said in the interview. “Jamie is a totally different energy from Honey — that’s what makes this trilogy so much fun. You never know where it’s going next.”
Joking about her future with the filmmakers, Qualley added, “Let the record show that if I’m not in the third one, I will be offended — and I will be upset.”
Inspirations and Setting
Speaking previously with Autostraddle, co-director Tricia Cooke shared that Honey Don’t! is set in contemporary Bakersfield, California, and draws inspiration from noir classics like The Long Goodbye and Fat City.
Cooke also noted that the film’s title was inspired by Wanda Jackson’s version of the song “Honey Don’t,” hinting at a retro Americana vibe laced with subversive, modern twists.
“It’s campy, it’s sexy, and yes — there’s more sex in this one,” she said in that 2024 interview.
The pair’s approach to storytelling is rooted in genre homage, queer character development, and a strong visual aesthetic. Their films blend sharp writing with emotionally complex — and often hilarious — performances from their cast.
Audience Buzz and Anticipation
Though Honey Don’t! has not yet released a trailer, anticipation is building. Social media users have already begun creating fan art, speculative threads, and early reviews based on insider information and interviews. On X (formerly Twitter), fans are celebrating what they expect to be another stylish, queer cult favorite.
The combination of Margaret Qualley and Aubrey Plaza in leading roles, alongside Chris Evans in a villainous turn, has only increased hype around the film.
“I don’t even need to see the trailer — I’m already sold,” wrote one user.
Coming to Theaters in 2025
According to i-D, Honey Don’t! is expected to hit theaters later this year, though an exact release date has yet to be announced. With its unconventional storyline, queer lens, and all-star cast, the film is poised to be one of the year’s most talked-about indie releases.
Whether you’re in it for the noir aesthetic, the queer representation, or the cast’s undeniable charisma, Honey Don’t! is shaping up to be a standout in an already strong year for LGBTQ cinema.
