Ewan McGregor and Anne Hathaway lead the cast of the new sci-fi thriller The End of Oak Street, arriving in theaters this week. Directed by David Robert Mitchell and produced by J.J. Abrams, the film follows the Platt family as they navigate a strange shift in their Michigan neighborhood. A mysterious wormhole transports their home from 1982 to a prehistoric landscape filled with dangerous dinosaurs.
McGregor signed on primarily for the chance to work alongside Hathaway. He noted the script offered an grounded, realistic take on family dynamics that reminded him of classic Amblin-era films. The unexpected shift from a domestic drama to a survival story involving predators caught the actor off guard during his initial read. He describes the experience of being hunted by prehistoric creatures as visceral and terrifying rather than awe-inspiring.
Production required significant physical effort, with the cast performing numerous chase sequences across their suburban setting. McGregor mentions the technical constraints of filming such scenes, noting that actors must run at a specific pace to allow camera equipment to keep up. Maintaining a high level of fear on set for several months proved to be an exhausting process for the cast.
Despite the constant threat of extinction, the film maintains moments of humor and character development. One scene features the couple taking a photograph while two dinosaurs interact in the background. McGregor views this moment as a turning point for his character and Hathaway’s onscreen spouse, offering a brief period of connection during their intense ordeal. The film hits theaters on August 14.