Vincent Gallo Turned Down Venice Premiere for James Franco-Starring ‘The Policeman’: “He Wanted Competition”

In the ever-unfolding cinematic soap opera that is the career of Vincent Gallo, a new chapter has arrived.

Gallo shot “The Policeman” in late 2023, starring James Franco as a detective, while Gallo seemingly plays the serial killer. The film has been in post-production for the past three years. A few months ago, Gallo said “The Policeman” was coming out “soon.” Turns out, it almost premiered at Venice.

Venice chief Alberto Barbera revealed to Variety that the Venice Film Festival “almost” took Gallo’s film, but — if you can believe it — Gallo ultimately decided against participating. Barbera said Venice told Gallo, “We like the film very much. We know it is a film that is going to divide the public, but we are ready to face a complicated situation.” However, the festival did not want to place it in competition because “we didn’t think the profile of the film would benefit from the competition.”

After discussing it “a lot — a lot, for a long time,” Gallo ultimately told them, “No, I prefer not to come.”

Can you believe that? Gallo, whose career has been in the dumps for years, turned down a chance to premiere his new film at Venice. This was his best shot — what other major festival would want to seriously gamble on a wildcard like Gallo?

Asked by Variety whether the potential controversy stemmed from Gallo and Franco or from the film itself, Barbera was clear: “No, because of the film. Because of the subject.” When pressed about the movie’s portrayal of a serial killer, Barbera explained that the concern was more about Gallo’s approach to filmmaking. “With Vincent Gallo there is always an approach that is, let’s say, troubling,” he said. “There is always something unsettling in the way he approaches a subject.”

Gallo’s last official release, “The Brown Bunny,” premiered in the Cannes competition in 2003, so one would assume he’d attempt a similar path again — sadly, I had heard Cannes rejected “The Policeman” earlier in the year.

Of course, “The Brown Bunny” is 23 years and several controversies ago. These days, Gallo’s industry standing has eroded considerably — and with Franco attached, you’ve got a package many festival programmers might politely label too “challenging” to screen. Gallo had his shot with Venice and, bewilderingly, declined.