The above tweet from Cannes insider Cedric Succivalli hints at a 2023 competition film, from an American Oscar-nominated director, who has previously competed at Cannes.
This is fun. Another hint given by Succivalli is that neither Deadline, Screen and Deadline mentioned this film in their Cannes spitballing pieces.
The answer could only really be between two directors: Ethan Coen or Richard Linklater.
On 03.14.23, I had posted Richard Linklater’s ‘Hitman’ Test-Screens; Is Cannes Premiere Next? — I had briefly mentioned about rumors I had heard that “Hitman” was selected for the Cannes Film Festival.
It’s also around this time of the year that some American titles, with Cannes aspirations, start to test-screen, for studios to know exactly what they have. “Hitman” was one of them, it had test-screened at The Grove in Los Angeles. Word of mouth was very good from that screening.
Meanwhile, Ethan Coen’s untitled film, a dark comedy, wrapped filming this past November. Focus is handling this one, but they already have Wes Anderson’s “Asteroid City” set for Cannes competition.
The film is Coen's first directorial effort without brother Joel. Ethan co-wrote the upcoming film with his wife Tricia Cooke.
Coen and Cooke initially wrote the screenplay in the mid-2000s, which is said to be a “Russ Meyer-inspired romp” that was initially supposed to be directed by Allison Anders (“Gas Food Lodging.”
Here’s the synopsis of this untitled road movie:
“The story centers on a party girl who takes a trip from Philadelphia to Miami with her buttoned-down friend. Cruising bars ensues as does the potpourri of a severed head in a hatbox, a bitter ex-girlfriend, a mystery briefcase and an evil senator.”
I’m betting on Richard Linklater.
Linklater is coming off the critical acclaim he received for “Apollo 10 1/2” in France. The reception there was much better than in the US, where it still received positive reviews. Hell, even Cahiers du Cinema put it in their top ten films list for 2022
The last time Linklater was at Cannes was in 2006, when he brought two films there: “Fast Food Nation” and “A Scanner Darkly.” Otherwise, he’s been known to premiere his other films at SXSW, Sundance, and Berlin.