Terrence Malick’s ‘The Way of the Wind’ Might Be Ready For Cannes

In 2019, Terrence Malick wrapped up shooting his next movie in Rome, this one was originally titled “The Last Planet” and is now called “The Way of the Wind.”

I emailed a few people this weekend about “The Way of the Wind,” and one in-the-know French producer told me that Cannes Film Festival boss Thierry Fremaux and Malick have been talking privately, since last year, about a potential world premiere on the Croisette this coming May. It, of course, all depends whether Malick has a cut of the film that he is satisfied with by then, he is well-known to stay in the editing room floor for years until he finds the right narrative “form.”

“The Way of the Wind” will reportedly convey passages “in the life of Christ” through representing evangelical parables. The First Image from Terrence Malick's Biblical-Drama was released two years ago. The cast includes the likes of Matthias Schoenaerts (as Saint Peter), Géza Röhrig (as Jesus), Ben Kingsley, Joseph Fiennes, and Mark Rylance (as Satan).

Variety spoke with one of the film’s producers, Karim Debbagh, The producer described it as a “highly spiritual experience” that puts a “dark genre twist” on the biblical story. In addition, Malick spoked about the film at a 2019 event (via La Repubblica/One Big Soul):

“We have just finished shooting, I am very happy,” he said. “A few days ago we finished shooting in the desert of Jordan. [It’s] a multicultural film with a cast that brings together Middle Eastern actors, a German troupe, and even Italian artists in the costumes department and set design (costume designer Carlo Poggioli and production designer Stefano Maria Ortolani). Now I go back to Texas to edit the film. It will take at least a year because we have a lot of material, and since we go digital, we end up with many more images. My favorite moment of the work is the editing. There is no longer the set pressure, the uncertainty of the weather on the shoot. I am very happy to be here at the end of this long journey. I would like to be able to stay longer in Rome. We have an early plane that takes us to Austin.”

Malick premiered his World War II-era drama, “A Hidden Life” at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, after three years of production. I thought it was a messy return to narrative storytelling for the legendary writer-director, but reviews were his best since 2011’s “The Tree of Life”.