Filming of ‘Thirty-Three Cecils’ Movie Coming to Binghamton in 2026

Every year on September 1, the City of Binghamton celebrates Thirty-Three Cecils Day. It’s a local holiday inspired by Everett De Morier’s novel Thirty-Three Cecils, a story deeply tied to both Binghamton and Erie, Pennsylvania. Since 2023, this day has brought the community together to honor life, literature, and the story that put Binghamton in the national spotlight.

From Page to Screen: Binghamton Story Becomes a Film

Published in 2015, Thirty-Three Cecils follows two very different men, Walker Roe and Riley Dutcher, whose lives collide through circumstance, mistakes, and the search for redemption. The novel is emotional, gritty, and set in real locations that locals know well. Now, it’s being adapted into a feature film set to begin production in Binghamton in 2026. The movie will be directed by Matthew Modine.

Two Troubled Lives Collide in a Haunting Story

Walker Roe is a former filmmaker and cartoonist from Erie who has just served time for fraud and counterfeiting. Divorced and living in an apartment complex nicknamed “Divorce Court,” he struggles to rebuild his life under the judgment of a community scarred by his crimes. He befriends Lester Bugby, the landlord of his building (who will be played by Dustin Hoffman in the film), until Bugby suddenly dies in a canoeing accident, sparking suspicion and whispers about Walker’s involvement.

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Meanwhile, Riley Dutcher, known simply as Dutch, is a self-described drunkard trying to find his way to sobriety. His life takes a strange turn when an expensive bicycle mysteriously appears in his home. With no idea how it got there, Dutch sets out on a path that transforms him into a rootless traveler. Eventually, his journey leads him to Erie, where his life becomes intertwined with Walker’s.

The story unfolds through the journals of Walker and Dutch, which the police discover while investigating their murders. Through their voices, readers are pulled into a layered, haunting tale of regret, friendship, and fate.

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Binghamton Landmarks Set to Shine on the Big Screen

For locals, the decision to film in Binghamton is a big deal. The book itself is tied to the city, and many of the real-life spots mentioned in the story are still here today. One of them, The Belmar Pub, will even be used as a filming location. For residents, it will be thrilling to see familiar streets and hangouts transformed into cinematic backdrops.

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A Hometown Story That Belongs to Binghamton

The path from Everett De Morier’s book to a Hollywood film has been a long one, but it’s proof of the power of a story rooted in Binghamton. Soon, the rest of the world will get to see the city on the big screen through the eyes of Thirty-Three Cecils. For Binghamton, that’s not just exciting, it’s something to be proud of.