When the actors strike was called earlier this month, there were concerns about how SAG-AFTRA’s strict rules on film publicity would impact the star-power of the fall festival season. The Venice Film Festival, being the first major event on the calendar, was particularly in focus. Many wondered if the festival, known for its A-list names and glamorous red carpet, would see a significant decrease in celebrity presence this year.
However, those worries were quickly alleviated with the announcement of Tuesday’s program for the festival. Festival director Alberto Barbera made it clear in his opening speech that while there were some changes to the lineup due to the strike, the festival would still boast a star-studded selection of films. The only movie that had to be removed from the lineup was “Challengers,” the Luca Guadagnino drama starring Zendaya, which had its release date shifted to 2024 by Warner Bros. to avoid the strike.
Barbera went on to announce a lineup of highly anticipated movies from acclaimed directors that would be screening at the festival. These included David Fincher’s “The Killer” starring Michael Fassbender, Bradley Cooper’s “Maestro” featuring Leonard Bernstein as played by Cooper himself alongside Carey Mulligan, Yorgos Lanthimos’ “Poor Things” with Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo, Willem Dafoe, Ramy Youssef, Jerrod Carmichael, and Margaret Qualley, Sofia Coppola’s “Priscilla” featuring Jacob Elordi as Elvis Presley, Wes Anderson’s “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar” with Benedict Cumberbatch, Rupert Friend, Dev Patel, and Ralph Fiennes, and Michael Mann’s highly anticipated racing biopic “Ferrari” starring Adam Driver, Shailene Woodley, and Penélope Cruz.
Other notable films in the lineup included Ava DuVerny’s “Origin” starring Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Connie Nielsen, and Jon Bernthal, Michel Franco’s “Memory” featuring Jessica Chastain and Peter Sarsgaard, and “In The Land of Saints and Sinners” starring Liam Neeson and Kerry Condon.
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While the star power of the festival was not lacking, the question of which talent will be allowed to attend due to the strike remains. The Hollywood Reporter has already learned that one major title in the main competition may premiere without its cast in attendance if the strike continues. Netflix, a major player in Venice, is bringing several films to the festival, including “The Killer,” “Maestro,” “The Wonderful World of Henry Sugar,” Pablo Larraín’s “El Conde,” and festival closer “Society of the Snow.” These films, with their SAG-heavy casts, may have actor-less premieres if the labor dispute persists through the end of August.
In his opening address, Barbera acknowledged the impact of the strike on actor attendance but assured that talent from independent films would still be able to attend, ensuring that the red carpet “will not be empty.” This leaves room for films backed by studios like A24 and The Apartment, such as “Priscilla,” as well as titles like “Ferrari,” “Finally Dawn” with Lily James and Willem Dafoe, Richard Linklater’s “Hit Man” starring Glen Powell, “The Beast” with George MacKay and Lea Seydoux, and Luc Besson’s directorial comeback “Dogman” starring Caleb Landry Jones to potentially showcase their non-AMPTP credentials.
Although waiver applications for some of these films have been sent to SAG-AFTRA, no approvals have been announced yet. However, even with a potential waiver in place, there is still the question of whether actors would want to do PR in Venice or show solidarity for their striking peers, which could impact the overall presence of talent on the red carpet.
In conclusion, while the actors strike may have caused some adjustments to the lineup and potential limitations on actor attendance, the Venice Film Festival is still set to showcase an impressive selection of films from renowned directors. The festival will continue to be an important platform for launching movies into the awards season, and even with the strike, there will still be plenty of star power and glamour on the red carpet.
