On 11 May 2016 , it was reported that Lynne Ramsay would write and direct an adaptation of Jonathan Ames ' novella '' You Were Never Really Here '' , starring Joaquin Phoenix . The project would be shopped to Cannes buyers . Although it was initially reported that A24 had acquired the project , Amazon Studios bought U.S. rights to '' You Were Never Really Here '' on 13 May 2016 . Principal photography took place during August 2016 in and around New York City . On 2 May 2017 , it was confirmed that composer Jonny Greenwood would score the film . The film was still a work in progress when it premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on 27 May 2017
Cannes Film Festival
2017 Cannes Film Festival
You Were Never Really Here