At a Glance
- Leo Woodall stars as a piano tuner turned safecracker in the crime-thriller Tuner, hitting theaters May 22
- The film also features Dustin Hoffman, Havana Rose Liu, Jean Reno, and Tova Feldshuh
- Tuner premiered at the 2025 Telluride Film Festival and screens at Sundance on January 22
- Why it matters: The high-concept underdog story blends music, crime, and suspense with an Oscar-winning director at the helm
British actor Leo Woodall trades piano keys for safe dials in Tuner, a genre-bending thriller that marries an underdog tale with high-stakes crime. Directed and co-written by Daniel Roher, the film lands in theaters nationwide on May 22 after buzzy festival stops in Telluride and Sundance.
From Concert Hall to Crime Caper
Woodall, 29, plays Niki White, a gifted musician whose hyperacusis-an acute sensitivity to everyday sounds-derails his concert career. In the trailer exclusive to News Of Los Angeles, Niki explains the condition makes him “allergic to loud noises,” forcing him to abandon the stage.
Opportunity knocks when he discovers an uncanny knack for cracking safes. The twist turns his quiet life upside down and propels the story into thriller territory.
Key cast members include:
- Dustin Hoffman as Harry Horowitz, Niki’s mentor and veteran piano tuner
- Havana Rose Liu as Ruthie, a composition student who bonds with Niki over music
- Jean Reno as the veteran thief who recruits Niki for a lucrative heist
- Tova Feldshuh as Mona, a no-nonsense figure who warns Niki against reckless choices
A Mentor in Need
The stakes become personal when Harry requires expensive medical treatment. With few legal options, Niki contemplates the criminal path laid out by Reno’s seasoned criminal.
“Don’t do anything stupid. You understand?” Mona cautions in the trailer, underscoring the danger ahead.
Despite the peril, Niki clings to his identity: “I’m just a tuner, man,” he insists as the net tightens.
Festival Pedigree
Black Bear Pictures produced and will distribute the thriller, which first screened at the 2025 Telluride Film Festival in August. The film’s next showcase comes Thursday, January 22, within the 2026 Sundance lineup.
Roher, who won an Oscar for the documentary Navalny, co-wrote the script with Robert Ramsey. Festival programmers praise the film’s shifting tones: “The triumphant Tuner constantly shape-shifts in mood and tone-captivating as an odd-couple friendship, a tense thriller, and a charming romance in equal measure.”
Key Takeaways
- Tuner fuses music-world authenticity with classic heist tension
- Woodall’s portrayal of hyperacusis adds a fresh sensory twist to the crime genre
- Hoffman’s supporting role marks one of the actor’s rare recent screen appearances
- Roher’s transition from Oscar-winning documentarian to narrative director continues with this sophomore feature
The film opens wide on May 22.
