‘Blitz' Still Has No Distributor, But Targeting Fall Release — Saoirse Ronan Will Be Campaigned as Lead

Jeff Sneider’s sources are saying that Saoirse Ronan will be campaigned as Lead Actress in Steve McQueen's “Blitz,” and that Harris Dickinson will positioned as Supporting Actor.

That’s all fine and dandy, but the film still doesn't have a distributor, which Sneider confirms. Sneider adds that a fall release is being targeted by Apple, but without a distributor attached to the film, things could get a tad more complicated.

So, what gives? All I know is that I’ve been told, now by two sources, that “Blitz” isn’t going to Venice, will very likely skip Telluride and might have its world premiere at TIFF. Of course, things could change in the blink of an eye, a studio could very well hop onboard and a late submission to these fests is a possibility. However, I’m starting to believe that there’s more to this story than meets the eye.

I also know that last earlier this month the film was privately screened for a very small number of journalists in London. The only reaction I gathered was from a non-film critic colleague, under NDA, who quite simply replied back to my email saying, “It’s great.”

“Blitz” has been one of our most anticipated films of 2024. On-paper, it sounds like the kind of ambitious and sweeping narrative that McQueen could bring all the way to Oscar glory. However, a few red flags are starting to emerge with this one.

Last year, McQueen stated that he hoped for the film to premiere at Cannes 2024. That clearly didn’t happen. There’s been no trailer, poster, release date or images unveiled by Apple. The film is definitely ready. It has an MPA rating — PG-13 for "thematic elements including some racism, violence, some strong language, brief sexuality and smoking." It should be noted that all of McQueen’s other films have had R ratings. This is his first PG-13 outing.

“Blitz,” which wrapped shooting in April 2023, takes place during the German bombing campaign against the United Kingdom in 1940, with the events “seen through the eyes of the Londoners on the home front.” It starts Saoirse Ronan, Harris Dickinson, Stephen Graham, Erin Kellyman, and Hayley Squires.