Famous Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar has named Ethan Hawke the star of his next Western-inspired film, Strange Way of Life, alongside Pedro Pascal.

According to Variety, the 30-minute film follows a man named Silva who crosses the desert to reunite with an old friend, Sheriff Jake, after 25 years apart. After celebrating their reunion, Sheriff Jake reveals "that the real reason for his visit is not the memories of their old friendship."

Almodóvar will produce the film with his brother, Agustin Almodóvar, through his company El Deseo. Agustin told Variety that they will "self-finance" the film to give themselves "the freedom we had when we were making Super 8 films in the 70s, but with 40 years of experience in the industry."

Saint Laurent will be the lead designer, and Anthony Vaccarello will serve as associate producer and also the costume designer. Saint Laurent has supported several recent short and feature films by major filmmakers, including Gaspar Noé's Lux Aeterna, which was recently released in the United States. 

"It's very convenient for me," Almodóvar said. "I feel much freer to do things in English this way." 

The short film provides Almodóvar with another English-language experiment ahead of A Manual for Cleaning Women, the adaptation of Lucia Berlin's short stories that he still plans to direct starring Cate Blanchett. Production is expected to begin next year, but it's been a long time coming. He finished the script along with two others during the first pandemic shutdown, but said Strange Way of Life was his current priority.

"Right now, we're focused on the Western," he said. "I know how I want to do it, but I'll find out more during the shoot." 

In light of that history, Almodóvar said Strange Way of Life offered a new opportunity for a two-character western.

"It could be like my answer to Brokeback Mountain," he said.