“When I lost her, I lost sight of any landmark that may have led me to someplace happier.” This single line may encapsulate the tone of THE GOLDFINCH, an upcoming drama based on Donna Tartt’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name. The story follows a young man who survives a terrorist attack only to build a life as a criminal, anchored to the memory of his mother by a stolen painting.

Before THE GOLDFINCH opens nationwide September 13, learn more about the lead character, Theo Decker (Ansel Elgort), and his surrogate mother, Mrs. Barbour (Nicole Kidman).

Ansel Elgort as Theo Decker

Most movie fans know Ansel Elgort from the Oscar-nominated BABY DRIVER, in which he starred as a young getaway driver fueled by a heart-pumping soundtrack. But before he appeared in Edgar Wright’s hit action flick, Elgort was a YA mainstay opposite Shailene Woodley in the DIVERGENT series and romance-drama THE FAULT IN OUR STARS.

In THE GOLDFINCH, Elgort takes on the lead role of the adult Theo Decker. Theo was only 13 when his mother was killed in a bombing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. In the aftermath of the chaos, Theo stole the Carel Fabritius painting “The Goldfinch” to memorialize his mom.

As an adult, Theo battles with his sense of loss and the guilt he feels about the painting, and he makes some poor choices involving fake antiques, violence and drugs. We won’t spoil any other details about his journey — you will have to see THE GOLDFINCH to find out what happens!

Nicole Kidman as Mrs. Barbour

Star Nicole Kidman really needs no introduction; we’ll try to be brief, though her impressive career spans more than three decades.

Kidman made her U.S. debut in 1989’s DEAD CALM and steadily built her resume with high-profile films like BATMAN FOREVER and EYES WIDE SHUT. In the early 2000s, she started to earn more prominent roles in films including MOULIN ROUGE!, THE OTHERS and THE HOURS. Most recently, in 2018, Kidman starred in AQUAMAN, BOY ERASED and the Golden Globe-nominated DESTROYER.

In THE GOLDFINCH, Nicole Kidman plays the coolly reserved but still caring Mrs. Barbour, who takes Theo in for a time. Her own children, Platt (Luke Kleintank), Kitsey (Willa Fitzgerald) and Andy (Ryan Foust) all have important roles to play in Theo’s life — particularly Kitsey.

Set your reminder to get tickets to THE GOLDFINCH as soon as it opens at AMC on September 13.