Karim Aïnouz’s “Rosebushpruning,” his second English-language project, has lost two key actors: Kristen Stewart and Josh O’Connor. They’ve been replaced by Riley Keough and Callum Turner. Downgrade? Elle Fanning, Jamie Bell, Pamela Anderson and Tracy Letts remain on board in the cast.
The casting changes are believed to be caused with Stewart’s busy schedule as she’s currently immersed in post-production work on her long-gestating passion project “The Chronology of Water,” which will in all likelihood premiere at Sundance 2025.
Meanwhile, O’Connor is set to start shooting Kelly Reichardt’s “The Mastermind” in October and he’s rumored to always be involved in Steven Spielberg’s next film, “The Dish,” set to begin principal photography in February 2025.
The film has started filming in Spain. It’s obviously eyeing a Cannes 2025 selection, especially with Aïnouz having turned into a mainstay at the festival. He did lose some brownie points with the festival by premiering two consecutive competition duds: 2023’s “Firebrand” and 2024’s “Motel Destino.”
“Rosebushpruning,” an adaptation of Marco Bellochio’s classic “Fists in the Pocket,” was announced by The Match Factory and MUBI during Cannes 2022. Here is the official synopsis, via Production Weekly.
In the claustrophobic confines of a rural estate, a family struggles with their tangled web of hereditary diseases. Among them is Alessandro, a young man with epilepsy and paranoid tendencies. [..] Alessandro's obsessive nature takes a dark turn when a series of dreadful accidents and murders is set into motion.
“Rosebushpruning” is set to be Aïnouz’s ninth feature, In 2019 he directed Un Certain Regard winner “The Invisible Life.” His other credits include “The Silver Cliff” and “Futuro Beach.”
Netflix and Skydance Animation have also called it quits. The two sides announced Monday that they're ending the animated film deal struck back in 2023, framing it as a mutual decision.