The Cannes Film Festival will include Baz Luhrmann, George Miller, Claire Denis and David Cronenberg, but not David Lynch; a Ukrainian film festival perseveres; Thandiwe Newton leaves a Magic Mike sequel for a good reason and Frank Langella leaves an Edgar Allen Poe series for a bad reason. All in today’s Movie News Rundown.
But First: I am writing this en route to NYC where tonight I get to moderate a screening and Q&A of the punk coming-of-age story Coast with filmmakers Jessica Hester and Derek Schweickart, as well as actress Melissa Leo, among others. You can buy tickets here and we’ll give away 50 free copies of the brand-new issue of MovieMaker. It’s at the Angelika, one of the best places to see movie, and if you come up and talk with me after maybe you’ll end up in this newsletter.
Cannes Lineup: Films coming to the festival include Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis, Elvis granddaughter Riley Keough’s directorial debut, Beast, George Miller’s Three Thousand Years of Longing, David Cronenberg’s Crimes of the Future, Kelly Reichardt’s Showing Up, James Gray Armageddon Time, and Claire Denis’ Stars at Noon. We were also excited to see that one of the films in competition is Tarik Saleh’s Boy From Heaven, because he just wrote this for us about his new film The Contractor. Cannes will also feature the world premiere of Top Gun: Maverick, with a previously announced Tom Cruise tribute. The in-person festival will be held from May 17-28.
Here’s the Full List: Of films coming to Cannes.
Not Going: David Lynch, who shot down reports that he has a new film destined for Cannes. Here’s EW with details.
Beast Backstory: You can learn a little about the making of Keough’s Beast, which she is co-directing with Gina Gammell, in this terrific piece we recently shared by Eléonore Hendricks on the art of street casting.
Message From Ukraine: Alika Kharchenko with the Kyiv International Short Film Festival would like you to know that the Kyiv International Short Film Festival is still happening as Ukrainians courageously struggle to uphold the bastions of normal life. “The next edition of KISFF is scheduled for September 21-25, and we will do our absolute best to make it happen, either offline or online. The call for short films of all kinds is open, and each submission is a contribution to the functioning of our organization during these tough times. We accept submissions at FFW: https://filmfreeway.com/
Also: Kharchenko has some on-the-ground suggestions for charities you might consider supporting. If you’re interested in local operations, she recommends Palyanytsia, Zgraya, and UAnimals. If you’re looking for a very well-regarded Western charity — and want a tax deduction — she recommends World Central Kitchen.
Exit: “Thandiwe Newton has made the difficult decision to step away from the production of Warner Bros. Pictures’ Magic Mike’s Last Dance to deal with family matters,” a studio rep tells The Hollywood Reporter. Salma Hayek has made the less-difficult decision to take over the role. The film will air on HBO Max and will once again feature Channing Tatum as an exotic dancer.
Langella: Soon after TMZ reported that Frank Langella was being investigated for sexual harassment on the set of a Netflix project, Deadline reported that the 84-year-old Oscar nominee was out as the lead of Netflix’s Edgar Allen Poe limited series The Fall of the House of Usher. Deadline said the investigation concluded that he was involved in “unacceptable conduct on set.” TMZ said Langella was accused of “an inappropriate joke that was sexual in nature,” and that “in the context of his performance, possibly during rehearsal, he touched the leg of a female costar, and further drew attention to the action when he jokingly said something like ”Did you like that?'” The Hollywood Reporter also said “the investigation began after Langella was accused of making inappropriate remarks to a female co-star.” Langella’s reps have yet to comment.
Crimes of the Future: Here’s the super-chil-not-at-all-creepy trailer for David Cronenburg’s Crimes of the Future which looks to include a lot of — ulp! — body horror:
Main Image: Austin Butler as singer, actor and Riley Keough grandfather Elvis Presley in Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis.
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As much as I would like to help out Kyiv International Short Film Festival, my plan was to attend any festival that would select my first short film, "Stalk". Needless to say, I'm not attending during wartime, so I didn't submit. I wish them all the luck with their intentions to still hold it.