Rooney Mara Says Luca Guadagnino Won’t Direct Aubrey Hepburn Biopic, But Project Not Dead

Rooney Mara is in London this weekend to promote her new film “La Cocina,” Alonso Ruizpalacios‘ restaurant drama that has its world premiere at the Berlinale today. And during an audience Q&A, the actress had updates on a couple of other upcoming projects she’s involved in. Bad news for one of those, as Deadline reports that Luca Guadagnino is no longer attached to direct an Aubrey Hepburn biopic for Apple starring Mara as the iconic actress. But just because Guada left doesn’t mean the project is done for good.

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“The project is not completely dead,” Mara told the audience during a Q&A. “Luca is no longer going to be directing it, but the project is still very much alive.” However, the actress wouldn’t disclose anything further about the movie’s future. “I can’t say more than that right now.” The Hepburn biopic was first announced in January 2022, when Guadagnino was still working on his cannibal romance “Bones And All” and Mara’s next role was in “Women Talking.” Since then, Guada filmed two other films, both potentially on the way this year: “Challengers,” in theaters this April, and the William S. Burroughs adaptation “Queer,” which wrapped shooting last June.

It shouldn’t surprise Guada fans that he’s dropped out of another project he was once attached to. The Italian auteur confirmed last November that he wasn’t doing a “Scarface” remake anymore. And in 2022, Guada also confirmed he wouldn’t direct another potential project that would have starred Mara, a “Brideshead Revisited” series for BBC. Of course, there’s still the off-chance he directs a “Call Me By Your Name” sequel, but it’s unclear what Guada’s next project will be. 2024 is a busy year for him, publicity-wise, anyway, as “Challengers” will have all eyes on it thanks to Zendaya and “Queer” will likely receive a Fall festival world premiere.

As for Mara, she also provided an update on Pawel Pawlikowski‘s “The Island,” a film the actress was set to star in with her husband Joaquin Phoenix before the project was shut down last May due to the imminent guild strikes. “Me, Joaquin, and Pawel still have hope that we will make it,” Mara said about the pic. “We just don’t know when that will be. It doesn’t look like that will happen this year. But we’re all committed to the project.” In the mean time, Mara and Phoenix star in Lynne Ramsay‘s upcoming film “Polaris,” which should get a festival premiere this year.