After the one-two punch last year of “Challengers” and “Queer,” all eyes are on Luca Guadagnino‘s next project, “After The Hunt.” But when and where will the film have its world premiere? That’s coming more into focus now, as Deadline reports that Amazon MGM and Imagine Entertainment will release “After The Hunt” in theaters this October. That means a premiere in competition at Venice is much more likely than, say, Cannes in May.
And that makes a lot of sense, considering Guadagnino’s history at Venice. In short, Luca loves being on the Lido: six of his films have had their world premieres at the festival, including “Queer.” After the success of “Challengers” last year, it’s easy to imagine Amazon MGM would accommodate a Venice launch for “After The Hunt” if that’s what Guadagnino wants. And a Fall festival season also more acutely targets awards season love, which Guadagnino failed to accrue with either “Challengers” or “Queer” this year.
But back to “After The Hunt,” which will get a limited release on October 10 before the film opens nationwide on October 17. Julia Roberts stars as a college professor embroiled in controversy after an accusation by a student (Ayo Edebiri) against of her colleagues (Andrew Garfield) threatens to expose a dark secret from her past. “After The Hunt” also stars Guadagnino regulars Chloë Sevigny and Michael Stuhlbarg, as well as Thaddea Graham, Lío Mehiel, Will Price, Chrstine Dye, and Burgess Byrd. Nora Garrett pens the film’s screenplay, with Guadagnino, Brian Grazer, Jeb Brody, and Allan Mandelbaum producing.
What will “After The Hunt” vie against at the box office its opening weekend? Scott Derrickson‘s “The Black Phone 2‘ is its biggest opponent, but Aziz Ansari‘s “Good Fortune” will also come out swinging thanks to the star power of its cast: Keanu Reeves, Seth Rogen, Keke Palmer, and Ansari himself. But a prime Fall release date for Guadagnino’s latest hints that Amazon MGM thinks they have a hit on their hands. And if the director’s latest is anything like “Challengers,” which made nearly $100 million worldwide and became Guadagnino’s first opening-weekend #1, then “After The Hunt” will also be a winner.
Still, despite critical adoration, Guadanino is a niche director and his other projects with Amazon MGM have fizzled commercially. 2022’s “Bones And All” failed to find an audience despite Timothée Chalamet, and the 2018 remake of “Suspiria” also failed to return its budget at the box office. So maybe “After The Hunt” isn’t such a sure thing after all, but then it’s not a genre-heavy or violent as those other two pictures.
As for what’s next for Guadagnino after “After The Hunt,” he has several irons in the fire: “Sgt. Rock” at DC Studios, “Separate Rooms” at Fremantle, and an “American Psycho” remake for Lionsgate. Which will come next? Stay tuned on that, and where “After The Hunt” will have its world premiere.
