UPDATE: Word is that Guadagnino is shooting his OpenAI/Sam Altman movie, “Artificial,” this month in Italy and San Francisco. The film stars Andrew Garfield, Melissa Barrera and Yura Borisov.
EARLIER: So, the Torino Film Commission has published a casting call for a new “international movie” to be directed by Luca Guadagnino. They’re looking for locals—particularly Northern Italians—as extras. Production is set to begin July and wrap in September.
Which of Guadagnino’s unmade projects this might be is anybody’s guess. However, it’s likely down to two potential films, both of which are supposed to shoot in Italy.
There’s “Separate Rooms,” starring Léa Seydoux—a project that Josh O’Connor recently dropped out of. As it happens, O’Connor is expected to begin production on Joel Coen’s next film, “Jack of Spades,” this month.
“Separate Rooms” would be an adaptation of Pier Vittorio Tondelli’s cult Italian novel. Published in 1989—and Tondelli’s swan song before his death in 1991—it recounts three moments in the life of Leo, a writer in his early thirties, as he grapples with the profound grief of losing his partner, Thomas, a young German musician. Their relationship unfolds through a series of continuous flashbacks.
However, my best bet is that it’s “Artificial,” centered on OpenAI’s Sam Altman, and starring Andrew Garfield, and “Anora” breakout Yura Borisov. THR had previously reported it would shoot in Italy and San Francisco. The script comes from Simon Rich, a “Saturday Night Live” writing veteran.
“Artificial” found its way to Guadagnino after production on “Sgt. Rock”—the DC Studios film starring Colin Farrell—was scrapped. Rather than wait it out, the director began scouting for a new project he could turn around quickly, ultimately landing on “Artificial.”
It’s unlikely to be “American Psycho,” which is set in New York City. Then there’s his adaptation of Thomas Mann’s “Buddenbrooks,” along with other literary projects including “Lord of the Flies” and “Leading Men,” the latter which fictionalizes the relationship between Tennessee Williams and Frank Merlo. Meanwhile, his long-delayed “Sgt. Rock” can likely be ruled out, as that one seems to be in need of a fresh rewrite.
It seems that once Guadagnino wraps shooting this summer, he’ll be heading straight to the Venice Film Festival, where his latest film, “After the Hunt,” starring Andrew Garfield and Julia Roberts, is set to make its world premiere. Does this guy ever sleep?
Snyder has mentioned in the past how “Sucker Punch “never really got finished correctly,” and that it was “not really the correct cut.” The extra footage is actually already shot.