Fox Searchlight has set an October 17 release date for Alejandro González Iñárritu‘s Birdman, the director’s new black comedy expected by most to premiere at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, but Fox Searchlight co-president Stephen Gilula told Deadline the film “won’t complete post production until late May or early June”, so the Cannes dream seems over.
Interestingly enough, the film has already been rated R for language throughout, some sexual content and brief violence. Nevertheless, expect a premiere in Venice, Toronto or Telluride.
The film stars Michael Keaton as an actor, famous for portraying a superhero, who’s struggling to mount a Broadway play. In the days leading up to opening night, he battles his ego and attempts to recover his family, his career and himself.
Along with Keaton the film co-stars Edward Norton, Emma Stone, Naomi Watts, Zach Galifianakis, Andrea Riseborough and Amy Ryan.
I know a lot of people are excited for this movie due to Inarritu’s track record, but this is his first black comedy as most of his films have been doused in sadness and it has four writers credited — Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Jr. and Armando Bo. If this were a blockbuster I know the skepticism around this film would be much higher, but hey, I guess Inarritu has earned our respect so we’ll see.
