‘Y2K’ Trailer: Rachel Zegler Barely Survives New Years 1999 in Kyle Mooney’s Apocalyptic Comedy

Samantha Bergeson
·2 min read

IndieWire’s 2000s week continues in spirit with the highly-anticipated trailer for Kyle Mooney’s directorial debut “Y2K.”

The high school-set comedy stars Rachel Zegler, Jaeden Martell, and Julian Dennison as a trio of teens who have to survive New Years 1999 as Y2K literally happens. The A24 film was announced in 2023, with Mason Gooding, Alicia Silverstone, Lachlan Watson, The Kid Laroi, Tim Heidecker, Eduardo Franco, Miles Robbins, Fred Hechinger, and Daniel Zolghadri rounding out the cast.

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“SNL” alum Mooney directs from a script he cowrote with Evan Winter. Mooney exited the live comedy sketch series in May 2022, along with fellow cast members Pete Davidson, Kate McKinnon, and Aidy Bryant.

“Y2K” is produced by Jonah Hill under his Strong Baby productions, along with screenwriter Winter, Matt Dines, and Ali Goodwin. “The Bear” creator Christopher Storer is also producing under his American Light & Fixture banner.

Wētā Workshop handled the apocalyptic film’s design and practical effects.

The IndieWire review explained how “Y2K” slows down the apocalypse movie structure, instead elongating how “the world slowly collapses while the skeleton of human society remains intact” in the plot.

“As our teenage heroes try to put a stop to the computer invasion before it’s too late, they team up with ‘The Fanatic’ director and Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst, who gives a hilariously self-deprecating performance as a fictional version of himself that’s unaware of the influence his nu-metal beats have on emo teens and senior citizens alike,” IndieWire reporter Christian Zilko wrote. “Obvious jokes about VHS porn and slow internet connections are funny enough, but the real comedic brilliance shines through in understated gags like teenage stoners feeling moral outrage about Bill Clinton’s sexual impropriety and the kids’ insistence on abbreviating Limp Bizkit to ‘Limp.'”

Mooney told IndieWire that it was “surreal” directing Durst on set.

“There was a moment in the making of the movie where I was on a stage and there were several background actors in front of me and Fred was present as well,” Mooney said. “It was that surreal moment where something feels circular, like, ‘Oh, I am living the dream. I don’t even know if I ever dreamt this in 1999, but I’m experiencing it and it’s incredible.’”

Read the IndieWire “Y2K” review here and check out Mooney’s recent IndieWire interview reflecting on the lore of the millennium.

“Y2K” premieres December 6 in theaters. Check out the trailer below.

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