We’re exactly one week away from Thierry Frémaux and the organizers of the Cannes Film Festival unveiling their lineup for this year. It’s even more of a mystery this time around than in past years, as we don’t even know the opening film yet, and while there has been plenty of speculation, at the end of the day, nobody really knows anything. Still, everyone is continuing to peer hard into the crystal ball and read the tea leaves, and it appears two big contenders won’t be walking down the red carpet.
Cineuropa is hearing rumors that Netflix titles “Okja” and “War Machine” won’t be on the Croisette, and it’s certainly some surprising news. Many had assumed that Cannes fave Bong Joon-ho would show off his starry new movie — featuring Tilda Swinton and Jake Gyllenhaal, among others — at the fest, though it’s not much surprise that the Brad Pitt military satire isn’t going, as it was always seen as a question mark.
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Again, this is just a rumor, so it’s not clear if Netflix didn’t submit them or Cannes passed, but certainly the fest has made their feelings known that they adore the streaming service’s rival, Amazon.
“They are good for cinema. Amazon and the people in charge of cinema at Amazon…they are movie buffs,” Frémaux said last spring, when Cannes hosted a plethora of Amazon titles including Woody Allen’s “Café Society,” Nicolas Winding Refn’s “The Neon Demon,” Park Chan-Wook’s “The Handmaiden” and Jim Jarmusch‘s “Gimme Danger” and “Paterson.”
If it does come true that “Okja” and “War Machine” aren’t at the fest, it’ll interesting to find out the story behind it. Did Cannes snub Netflix, not digging its approach to theatrical releases? Or did Netflix, who doesn’t play by anybody’s rules, decide that with a global audience at their fingerprints, a Cannes launch for “Okja” and “War Machine” is a moot point?
The Cannes Film Festival runs from May 17-28.