David Cronenberg Says Netflix Rejected A New Project & Hopes ‘Crimes Of The Future’ Premieres At Cannes Next Year

Canadian filmmaker David Cronenberg (“Naked Lunch,” “Eastern Promises”) is considered by many as one of the boldest and innovative genre directors and has been working for more than 40 years. Next year will seemingly see Cronenberg’s return to the world of sci-fi with his latest film “Crimes of The Future” expected to be released at some point in 2022.

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Cronenberg recently spoke to Canadian outlet NOW Magazine revealing that he’s completed photography and has entered the editing leg of the production with a hint that he might (a considerable might) have the film ready to go by the time Cannes Film Festival rolls around in May 2022.

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“I’ve finished shooting ‘Crimes Of The Future.’ I’ve now gone into the editing room and have worked with my editor. I almost forgot how much fun editing can be because it’s been a while since I did it. We’re expecting the movie to be finished by May. There are a lot of visual effects that have to be developed, and the sound, the music – all of that. We figure it’ll be ready to be premiered somewhere, maybe at the Cannes Film Festival, in May. And that’s pretty much it,” Cronenberg told NOW about his hope the film will screen at Cannes.

He also briefly mentioned to another Canadian outlet, The Globe & Mail, that Netflix rejected one of his projects after meeting with them at their headquarters in Los Angeles. This news is coming after the director had hinted at working with the streaming giant in the past.

“My experience with them was exactly my experience with studios. They’re bright, literate; they know stuff. But underneath, they’re afraid. They say, ‘We love your work.’ Then you give them something, and they say, ‘We want to work with you, but not on this,’” Cronenberg said of his interactions with Netflix.

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Known for shooting most of his films in Toronto, the filmmaker instead decided to shoot ‘Crimes’ in Athens, Greece, with a cast that includes Viggo Mortensen, Lea Seydoux, Kristen Stewart, Scott Speedman, Welket Bungué, Don McKellar, and Lihi Kornowski.

Here is the synopsis for the upcoming film:

“Taking a deep dive into the not-so-distant future where humankind is learning to adapt to its synthetic surroundings. This evolution moves humans beyond their natural state and into a metamorphosis, altering their biological makeup. While some embrace the limitless potential of trans-humanism, others attempt to police it. Either way, ‘Accelerated Evolution Syndrome’ is spreading fast. Saul Tenser is a beloved performance artist who has embraced Accelerated Evolution Syndrome, sprouting new and unexpected organs in his body. Along with his partner Caprice, Tenser has turned the removal of these organs into a spectacle for his loyal followers to marvel at in real-time theatre. But with both the government and a strange subculture taking note, Tenser is forced to consider what would be his most shocking performance of all.”

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NEON will be distributing “Crimes of The Future” in the United States, but we don’t have an official release date. More soon when it arrives. In the meantime, watch Cronenberg effuse over Kristen Stewart and her performances in the upcoming Pablo Larrain film, “Spencer,” and check out the first look at “Crimes Of The Future” below.