The Internet is clucking in full force over the confirmed news earlier today that that Ridley Scott’s “Robin Hood” would be the opening film of the upcoming Cannes Film Festival and in some cases, how potentially lame this news is (obviously some sites are all for it).
Some are worried about what this signals for Cannes, but really it’s just par for the course. Last year, Pixar’s “Up” opened the festival and generally the opener is a shiny tentpole utilized to garner more attention to the festival and especially the out of competition films are the same — “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skulls” and “Kung Fu Panda” in 2008, “Ocean’s Thirteen” and “U2 3D” in 2007, “The Da Vinci Code” opening the fest in 2006, etc. etc. But don’t worry, this is just what happens, fear not, the rest of Cannes will be business as usual, trust us.
So, with just over a month away, speculation is now beginning to gear up as to which films will or won’t be making their splashy debuts on the Croisette.
According to Deadline Hollywood and Showbiz411, one film that can be expected to make its bow is Oliver Stone’s “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps.” Earlier this month, the film had its release date bumped from April 23rd all the way to September 24th with little given in the way of reason and Showbiz 411 says the reason for this push was specifically the Cannes world premiere.
But if that seems like an odd film for Cannes, again, worry not. It play out of competition, i.e., another big-named, star-studded film used to gain attention and boost prestige for the festival. One filmed already rumored for the festival and seems to be a lock to appear now is Woody Allen’s “You Will Meet a Tall, Dark Stranger.” “Vicky Cristina Barcleona” played at Cannes in 2008 out of competition, Cannes adores Allen (like all the French do), so this one seems like another no-brainer. Though, like any Allen film that walks the Croisette, it will not be screened in competition.
Other names already being batted around for inclusion and being echoed once again are, Terrence Malick’s “The Tree Of Life” (really remains to be seen whether it will appear or not), Julian Schnabel’s “Miral” starring Freida Pinto and one new title not mentioned before, Francois Ozon’s “Potiche” starring Catherine Deneuve and Gerard Depardieu (sounds like a shoo-in already if it’s ready).
That’s all the Cannes rumors for now, but surely more will swirl about soon in the next few weeks.