As the anticipation for the Venice Film Festival reaches a fever pitch, Hollywood is holding its breath over the fate of A-list stars and prominent filmmakers who are waiting for the green light from SAG-AFTRA to grace the prestigious event. The union’s interim agreements have taken center stage amid the ongoing strike turmoil, allowing selected productions to resume and finished films to engage in promotional activities. However, with the festival set to kick off on August 30, the industry is on edge, hoping for clarity on which projects will make their presence felt at the renowned event.
Amidst the speculation and uncertainty, two projects have secured the coveted interim agreements to promote at Venice: Michael Mann’s “Ferrari” and Luc Besson’s “Dogman.” The big question lingers: will the star-studded casts of these films, featuring Adam Driver, Penelope Cruz, Christopher Denham, and Caleb Landry Jones, grace the Palazzo del Cinema with their presence?
The clamor for interim agreements has reached a fever pitch, with hundreds of applications flooding SAG-AFTRA’s offices. The lack of clarity has sent shockwaves through marketing executives and talent representatives who are left scrambling for answers. With ongoing strikes disrupting production and companies tightening their budgets, arranging last-minute travel plans for the festival has proved to be a daunting task. As one industry insider pointed out, attending the illustrious Italian festival “ain’t cheap.”
While the list of films that have applied for the interim agreements remains undisclosed, the official Venice selection boasts several titles with star-studded casts and promising early buzz. Sofia Coppola’s “Priscilla,” featuring Cailee Spaeny and Jacob Elordi as rock legends Priscilla and Elvis Presley, stands out. A24, the film’s distributor, has secured interim agreements for new projects but awaits the green light for their stars to make their Venice appearance.
Similarly, Michael Franco’s “Memory,” a poignant romantic drama centered on dementia, stars Jessica Chastain, Peter Sarsgaard, Merritt Wever, and Elsie Fisher. Ava DuVernay’s “Origin,” adapted from the acclaimed book “Caste,” features Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Niecy Nash-Betts, Jon Bernthal, and Vera Farmiga. Notably mysterious is Harmony Korine’s “Aggro Dr1ft,” starring superstar musician Travis Scott. All these films are up for sale and must navigate SAG-AFTRA’s new contract demands, as reported by Variety earlier this week.
While the excitement mounts for the Venice Film Festival, numerous other projects are poised to make their mark at the event. These projects, though prestigious and featuring stellar casts, are already backed by companies currently engaged in negotiations with SAG-AFTRA and the WGA. This includes Bradley Cooper’s “Maestro” from Netflix and Yorgos Lanthimos’ “Poor Things,” headlined by Emma Stone.
As the clock ticks down to the festival’s commencement, the industry watches with bated breath, eager to see which stars and projects will grace the Venetian red carpet, adding another layer of suspense to the already thrilling cinematic extravaganza.