Rumors began to swirl in February that Apple and Martin Scorsese eyed a 2023 Cannes Film Festival world premiere for Scorsese’s latest, “Killers Of The Flower Moon.” Now those rumors are official: Deadline confirms that “Flower Moon” indeed gets to stride down the Croisette for a premiere screening on May 20, in the Grand Théâtre Lumière, as part of festival.
READ MORE: Martin Scorsese’s ‘Killers Of The Flower Moon’ Gets An October Release Date
It’s not clear right now if “Flower Moon” will be in competition or not for the coveted Palme d’Or, Cannes’ top prize; the festival will clarify that at their mid-April press conference. Still, Scorsese returning to Cannes with a film of his for the first time since 1986 with “After Hours” is a big deal (and Scorsese won the Best Director Award that Year). Scorsese also won the Palme d’Or in 1976 for “Taxi Driver” ten years earlier. Then, in 1998, he served as Jury President at the festival, awarding Theo Angelopoulos‘ “Eternity And A Day” the top prize.
But with a Cannes world premiere for “Flower Moon,” it’s clear that Apple thinks Scorsese’s “Flower Moon” is awards material. Based on David Grann‘s bestseller, the film follows a string of serial murders on a 1920s Osage Indian reservation in Oklahoma, all Native Americans wealthy from the region’s booming oil industry. Agents from the newly formed FBI take on the case and discover a truth more sinister than initially imagined. Scorsese adapts Grann’s book with Eric Roth.
Scorsese reunites with frequent leading man Leonardo DiCaprio for “Flower Moon,” who’s also likely happy their film has a Cannes premiere. DiCaprio loved the red carpet treatment on the Croisette in 2019 with Quentin Tarantino‘s “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood,” so returning with Scorsese’s film must have him elated. “Flower Moon” also stars Robert De Niro, another Scorsese regular (although outside of “The Irishman,” they haven’t worked a lot recently), Lily Gladstone, Jesse Plemons, Cara Jade Myers, JaNae Collins, Jillian Dion, Tantoo Cardinal, and more.
A Cannes premiere for “Flower Moon” became more likely after Paramount and Apple penciled in an October US theatrical release last week. The film hits limited theaters on October 6 before it opens wide on October 20. Meanwhile, “Flower Moon” hits theaters in France on October 18. That makes the film comply with the country’s strict windowing rules and grants it a Cannes premiere. And no doubt an October release for “Flower Moon” in the US means that Apple eyes it to be a favorite for Best Picture in Awards Season 2024.
So what else will join “Killers Of The Flower Moon” at Cannes in May? Wes Anderson‘s “Asteroid City” will also be at the 76th rendition of the festival, but barring one or two other announcements, we’ll need to wait until the fest’s line-up announcement in mid-April to know more. Regardless, Scorsese at Cannes with a new film is cause for celebration.