Bruno Dumont’s “The Empire” just started production in France. The goal is a 2023 release, presumably a Cannes premiere.
“The Empire” revolves around two opposing forces from the depths of outer space, who unleash an apocalyptic conflict on Northern France’s picturesque Opal Coast. It’s Dumont doing sci-fi. Sold.
Dumont’s had an eccentric and genre-hopping career ever since his 1997 debut “La Vie de Jésus”, other highlights in his filmography include “Humanité,” “Li'l Quinquin” and “France.”
Camille Cottin, Lyna Khoudri et Anamaria Vartolomei star in “The Empire.” Adèle Haenel had originally been offered a role, but she publicly stated dropping out of the film because the script was “full of jokes about cancel culture and sexual violence.” Good riddance.
As mentioned a few weeks ago, our Cannes 2023 potentials list includes new films by Wes Anderson, Woody Allen, Ari Aster, Jonathan Glazer, Todd Haynes, Alexander Payne, Paolo Sorrentino, Lynne Ramsay, Yorgos Lanthimos, Alice Rohrwacher, Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Robin Campillo, Bruno Dumont, Abdherrane Sissako, Justine Triet, Bertrand Bonello, Mateo Garrone, Ken Loach, Maiwenn, Nani Moretti, Jeff Nichols, Aki Kaurismaki, Marco Bellocchio, Terrence Malick, Jessica Hausner, Catherine Breillat and Michel Franco.