As we approach the end of summer, it’s time to look ahead to the fall film festival season. This is the time of year when folks like the people at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) begin to finalize their lineup of screenings. And that’s exactly what happened today with TIFF announcing “Daliland” would be closing out the event on September 17. But it would appear that the festival is trying to distance itself from one of the people involved with “Daliland.” Would you believe this is yet another odd chapter in the recent story of Ezra Miller?
READ MORE: ‘Flash’ Star Ezra Miller Charged By In Vermont With Felony Burglary
Today, TIFF announced that Mary Harron’s “Daliland” will close out the film festival next month. The film is one of the most anticipated 2022 releases, with a big cast telling the story of one of the most iconic artists in modern history. However, when the film details were announced, there was one name conspicuously absent—Ezra Miller. You see, Miller was originally signed on to play one of the versions of Dali in the film, joining Ben Kinglsey, who plays the older version of the artist. So, maybe Miller was cut out of the film due to his recent run-ins with the law and general strange behavior? Not at all, as THR confirmed the actor does indeed still appear in the film as the title character. Miller’s just not in the cast credits that were shared with the media today.
“We couldn’t be prouder that Harron is a Canadian who has taken her singular explorations of iconic eccentrics to the world stage,” TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey said about the inclusion of “Daliland.”
Mary Harron is the filmmaker behind films such as “American Psycho,” “The Notorious Bettie Page,” and most recently, 2018’s “Charlie Says.” She is known for bringing historically significant people’s stories to life on the big screen. And for all intents and purposes, “Daliland” is expected to continue that tradition. However, it’s clear those involved with the festival and/or film are trying their best to distance themselves from the recent actions of Miller.
For those not keeping up with the news, Miller’s antics have been ramping up over the past couple of years. Incidents like a video of them throwing a woman to the ground, getting a restraining order against them in Hawaii, and most recently, a criminal charge for burglary in Vermont, among other issues, has been making people question Miller’s mental health. It’s clear that his legal issues and odd behavior are likely behind the decision by TIFF organizers to distance themselves from them by eliminating them from the cast list of “Daliland.”
This is a similar problem to what Warner Bros. Discovery is dealing with now, as Miller is the star of the upcoming “Flash” film, and reports are stating the studio is trying to navigate how to launch a $200 million blockbuster if the star is currently charged with a felony and is generally acting out of sorts. Because WBD doesn’t have the luxury that “Daliland” has, where the filmmakers and cast can talk about the movie without really needing to discuss Miller’s involvement. Sure, Miller is one of the stars of “Daliland,” but the actor is the star of “Flash.”
“Daliland” is expected to close out TIFF 2022 on September 17. Given how everything is happening so fast with Miller, we’ll have to wait and see where everything stands a month from now.