Venice without stars? What is the risk of the film festival due to the strike of actors

An outcry from the Hollywood Actors Union currently makes it impossible for stars like Zendaya, expected at the opening, to appear on the festival’s red carpet. But there is (possibly) a plan B…

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The strike of the union of Hollywood actors, as we have already mentioned, is the delay in filming, promotional tours (strike Oppenheimer was abruptly suspended on the eve of the London premiere) and late summer festivals.

First of all, the Venice Film Festival, which will start on August 30, is too early, according to some, to see the negotiations made between SAG-AFTRA, which represents American actors, and whoever runs the studios (and provisions on contracts, rights, and artificial intelligence, some of the topics in the discussion center); and, therefore, to see many long-awaited stars walking along the red carpet of the Palazzo del Cinema.

As also reported Hollywood Reporter RomeMostra’s director Alberto Barbera would have a plan B in place with the announcement of the official program scheduled for Tuesday, July 25: i.e. a “pan-European festival” in which the selection includes cinema, actually from Europe, but also from Asia and cinema outside the USA.

Apart from the actors themselves, it’s not really certain that production and distribution companies will want to “send” their strongest titles if there are no stars to promote them: it’s too big an image risk, given that the red carpets of festivals like Venice and Toronto are the “calling card” of the next awards season.

Luca Guadagnino himself, chosen to open the 80th exhibition Applicantslet it be known through which at the moment raises all doubts: certainly the main character Zendaya will not be able to attend the red carpet if the cases are not unlocked, but MGM itself, which produces the film, may decide not to present it to Venice anymore.

As time goes on, Mostra is in danger of not having the titles that are rumored to have played the lion’s share (sorry) this year: from Poor things Yorgos Lanthimos, Emma Stone and Mark Ruffalo Owner Bradley Cooper and with him, out ferrari Michael Mann with Adam Driver and Penelope Cruz Priscilla Sofia Coppola and many others.

There is hope that the Hollywood deal can be closed quickly, even if the barricades have just been set up. In the meantime, July 25 is expected.