In The Friend, an unexpected star outshone even Naomi Watts. Bing, a Harlequin Great Dane weighing around 150 pounds, was the film's canine lead, necessitating special accommodations to rest and move comfortably between scenes.
The Friend, based on Sigrid Nunez’s National Book Award-winning novel, follows writer Iris (Watts) as she copes with the suicide of her mentor, Walter (Bill Murray). Complicating her grief is Walter's request for Iris to care for his sorrowful dog, Apollo (Bing), who initially resists her affection.
When Watts first read the script, she was sceptical about its feasibility.
“In the film industry, we know the old adages: more time and money if you add animals and children,” she noted.
Yet directors Scott McGehee and David Siegel were determined to find the perfect dog. After a five-month search led by animal trainer William Berloni, they discovered Bing in Iowa.
Klingensmith, Bing’s breeder, initially thought Berloni's inquiry was spam but eventually realised Bing was ideal for the role. Despite his natural talent, Bing required training for specific scenes. The production faced delays due to the pandemic and strikes but ultimately succeeded in capturing Bing's star quality on screen.
