Venice Film Festival - George Clooney, Brad Pitt and others at Lido
In the past year, the Venice Film Festival lacked glamour, as stars were not allowed to promote their films due to the actors' strike. However, 2024 should look different. After "Beetlejuice 2" was confirmed as the opening film, the entire program for the festival is now known, running from August 28 to September 7. And the lineup has some star-studded contributions.
Joaquin Phoenix vs. Daniel Craig
So "Joker: Folie a Deux" is in the competition at the Lido. Since "Joker" won the Golden Lion in Venice in 2019, the sequel is also in the competition. Joaquin Phoenix (49) reprises his role as the deranged clown Arthur Fleck. New to the cast is Lady Gaga (38). The singer portrays the music therapist Harleen Quinzel, who meets Fleck in the psychiatric hospital. The pair become the Batman adversaries Joker and Harley Quinn.
Also in competition is "Queer" by Luca Guadagnino ("Call Me By Your Name"). Daniel Craig (56) plays an American who falls in love with a drug addict in Mexico. A particularly daring attempt by the former James Bond actor to free himself from the shadow of Bond.
Nicole Kidman vs. Angelina Jolie
In the race for the Coppa Volpi for Best Actress, Nicole Kidman (57) and Angelina Jolie (49) face off. Kidman stars in the erotic thriller "Babygirl" as the powerful CEO of a company who begins an affair with a young intern. Jolie appears in the biopic "Maria" as the famous opera singer Maria Callas (1923-1977).
Competition for the two actresses comes from "The Room Next Door" by Pedro Almodóvar (75). In his first English-language film, Julianne Moore (63) and Tilda Swinton (63) appear.
Brad Pitt and George Clooney out of competition
The most spectacular star lineup comes from a film that is not in competition. In "Wolves," George Clooney (63) and Brad Pitt (60) appear together on screen for the first time since 16 years. In the action comedy from "Spider-Man" director Jon Watts (43), they play two professional problem solvers who must work together as convinced lone wolves.
Particularly intriguing about Brad Pitt's supposed trip to Venice: He could meet his ex-wife Angelina Jolie there, whom he normally avoids outside of court.
- After a subdued 2023 Venice Film Festival due to the actors' strike, the 2024 edition promises a star-studded lineup, with "Beetlejuice 2" announced as the opening film.
- In the highly anticipated "Joker: Folie à Deux", Joaquin Phoenix once again plays the troubled clown Arthur Fleck, this time alongside Lady Gaga as Harleen Quinzel.
- Daniel Craig, former James Bond actor, takes on a new challenge in "Queer", where he portrays an American falling in love with a drug addict in Mexico.
- At the Venice Film Festival, Nicole Kidman and Angelina Jolie are competing for the Coppa Volpi for Best Actress in their respective films, "Babygirl" and "Maria".
- In "Maria", Jolie portrays the famous opera singer Maria Callas, while Kidman stars as a powerful CEO in an erotic thriller.
- Pedro Almodóvar's "The Room Next Door" also features strong female leads, with Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton in his first English-language film.
- Not in competition, but still generating excitement, is "Wolves" starring Brad Pitt and George Clooney, who reunite on screen for the first time in 16 years.
- The possibility of Brad Pitt meeting his ex-wife Angelina Jolie at the Venice Film Festival adds an extra layer of intrigue to the already anticipated event.
