First WHAT THEY HAD Trailer Experience the first WHAT THEY HAD trailer! The film, written and directed by Elizabeth Chomko, stars Hilary Swank, Michael Shannon, Blythe Danner, Robert Forster, Taissa Farmiga, and Josh Lucas. WHAT THEY HAD will be released in theaters on October 12. Bridget (Hilary Swank) returns home at her brother’s (Michael Shannon) urging to deal with her ailing mother (Blythe Danner) and her father’s (Robert Forster) reluctance to let go of their life together.