Bad news incoming: on the heels of Kirsten Dunst‘s casting in “A Minecraft Movie 2,” it appears that another upcoming project for the actress, a reunion with director Sofia Coppola, is no longer happening.
THR has the scoop here via Elle, who recently conducted an interview with Coppola. The reasons for the project’s cancellation? “It felt too sad,” explained Coppola. “It’s confusing in these dark times. I want to offer some hope and beauty in the world, but then you also don’t want to do something shallow, because it feels like a time for deep things.” The scrapped project had Dunst starring in a period film, playing a real historical figure. However, specifics on the film, including a title, plot details, and who exactly Dunst would play, remained under wraps.
Dunst first spoke about working with Coppola again on Town & Country last summer, and hinted at a shooting date sometime in 2026. Later, the actress confirmed to Vogue that the project was a period piece and teased that she’d play a real person, “but not someone who I’d consider famous.” Coppola has worked with Dunst three times before: first in 1999’s “The Virgin Suicides,” 2006’s “Marie Antoinette,” and 2017’s “The Beguiled.”
Coppola hasn’t made a fiction narrative feature since 2023’s “Priscilla,” starring Cailee Spaeny. Since then, however, she directed “Marc By Sofia,” a doc about fashion designer Marc Jacobs that premiered at the Venice Film Festival last year. Coppola also had a series adaptation of the Edith Wharton novel “Custom Of The Country” in the works over at Apple TV+, but has since handed off that project to UK director Josie Rourke; Sydney Sweeney stars in the latest iteration of that one.
Meanwhile, Dunst is in the thick of a robust slate of films that includes recent releases like Alex Garland‘s “Civil War,” Derek Cianfrance‘s “Roofman,” and Jane Campion‘s “The Power Of The Dog.” Up next for the actress? The aforementioned “Minecraft Movie” sequel, plus the thriller “Reptilia” opposite Mikey Madison, Ruben Östlund‘s “The Entertainment System Is Down,” and Flora Birnbaum‘s feature debut, “Self Help.”
A reunion between Kirsten Dunst and Sofia Coppola would’ve been fun, but alas, it’s not meant to be. Stay tuned for what Coppola pivots to for her next project instead.
