French director Bertrand Bonello is coming off his critically acclaimed “The Beast,” which was unlike any film he’d made before, mixing period-era romanticism, sci-fi and Lynchian depravity.
Here’s IONCINEMA reporting Bonello has three screenplays currently in development, but that his likely next film is the one that already has backing from the Polish Film Institute.
Bonello’s “Santo Subito” will draw inspiration from the legacy of Pope John Paul II, particularly the passionate cries of “Santo Subito!” that echoed after his death in 2005, urging his immediate canonization. Camera might roll on this one as early as September, which means a 2026 premiere is very likely.
Last November, Bonello told Variety that he’s eyeing to shoot his next film in fall 2025, but refused to divulge what it would be about, only that it’ll be very different to “The Beast”:
It’s a little early to talk about it. It’s going to be very different. It’s going to be completely different. The writing is finished, and we’re going to start the casting process. I’m going to announce it once the casting is done. I hope to start shooting next September.
Although “The Beast” is up there with his best works, I don’t believe Bonello’s made a better film than 2017’s “Nocturama,” a terrorist thriller that felt like a brilliant hybrid of Bresson’s “The Devil” and Romero’s “Dawn of the Dead.” Ironically, both “The Beast” and “Nocturama” were rejected by Cannes.
Bonello’s other films include “House of Pleasures,” “Saint Laurent,” and “Zombi Child.” He uses a bold, sensual, and often provocative approach to storytelling, blending lush visuals with characters that almost always live on the fringes of society.