Venice 2025 Lineup Rumors: Dwayne Johnson, Julia Roberts, Emma Stone & Yorgos Lanthimos Among Heavyweights Eyeing Festival Launches
A24
By Jonathan P. Moustakas | The Cinema Group
The 82nd Venice International Film Festival is shaping up to be one of the most star-studded in recent memory, with a parade of Hollywood power players and auteurs expected to land on the Lido this August. With the official lineup announcement set for July 22, sources suggest an early wave of high-profile premieres is already in motion — including new work from Luca Guadagnino, Yorgos Lanthimos, Noah Baumbach, Guillermo del Toro, and Kathryn Bigelow. As the fall festival season kicks into gear, Venice is once again poised to ignite the awards conversation and cement its place as the crown jewel of cinematic prestige.
Among the buzziest contenders is Benny Safdie’s The Smashing Machine, a gritty, emotionally charged sports biopic starring Dwayne Johnson as MMA legend Mark Kerr, opposite Emily Blunt as his wife Dawn. The film, which dramatizes Kerr’s struggles with addiction, fame, and the physical toll of his career, is expected to mark a major dramatic turn for Johnson. With Safdie’s unflinching visual style and a script grounded in raw human conflict, the film could be a formidable contender on the Lido and beyond.
Meanwhile, Luca Guadagnino’s latest effort, After the Hunt, tackles post-#MeToo academia through a haunting lens, boasting a powerhouse cast led by Julia Roberts, Andrew Garfield, and breakout star Ayo Edebiri. The film explores the moral labyrinth of mentorship, institutional power, and buried trauma. As with Guadagnino’s earlier Venice entries like Bones and All and A Bigger Splash, expectations are sky-high for both thematic boldness and visual elegance.
Returning to Venice is festival favorite Yorgos Lanthimos with Bugonia, a highly anticipated continuation of his creative partnership with Emma Stone. Following their Oscar-winning run with Poor Things, the pair reunites for a surreal and cerebral narrative that promises Lanthimos' trademark blend of absurdity and pathos. Though plot details remain tightly guarded, Bugonia is already generating buzz as one of the festival’s must-sees.
Other likely entries include Angelina Jolie in Alice Winocour’s Couture, set against the opulent backdrop of Parisian fashion. Jolie’s return to arthouse fare comes with heightened anticipation, especially after last year’s acclaimed performance in Pablo Larraín’s Maria.
On the streaming side, Netflix is doubling down with two heavyweight entries. First is Noah Baumbach’s Jay Kelly, a darkly comedic drama starring George Clooney as a reclusive genius whose past unravels in unexpected ways. Second is Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, a reimagining of the classic horror tale featuring an all-star cast including Jacob Elordi, Oscar Isaac, and Mia Goth. With Netflix's history of using Venice as a launchpad for its awards-season push, these films are likely to receive major red carpet treatment.
Another standout is Kathryn Bigelow’s A House of Dynamite, a geopolitical thriller headlined by Idris Elba, Rebecca Ferguson, and Greta Lee. The story, which begins with the launch of a mysterious missile against the U.S., sets off a global chain reaction of suspicion, military brinksmanship, and moral ambiguity. Bigelow, the first woman to win Best Director at the Oscars, could be returning to form with a taut, high-stakes drama reminiscent of The Hurt Locker and Zero Dark Thirty.
Beyond Hollywood, the festival will also spotlight a strong international slate. Jim Jarmusch is rumored to premiere Father Mother Sister Brother, a lyrical triptych anchored by Cate Blanchett and Adam Driver, exploring generational disconnection and existential dread. Paolo Sorrentino’s new work La Grazia, potentially led by Toni Servillo, could also make the lineup if post-production allows. Both films represent the artful, auteur-driven storytelling that Venice continues to champion.
Italy’s national cinema will be well-represented. Anticipated entries include Pietro Marcello’s Duse, a biopic of the legendary actress Eleonora Duse starring Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, and Gianfranco Rosi’s Below the Clouds, a new documentary from the director whose Sacro GRA previously won Venice's top prize. Also expected is Laura Samani’s A Year of School, a follow-up to her haunting debut Small Body, promising a meditative look at adolescence, memory, and loss.
From Asia, Venice is reportedly considering Chong Keat Aun’s Mother Bhumi, featuring Fan Bingbing, as well as a mysterious new project titled No Other Choice from South Korea’s Park Chan-wook. Both entries are rumored to bring politically charged, genre-bending stories to the lineup.
With Alexander Payne confirmed to preside over the main jury, this year’s competition promises both aesthetic diversity and cultural urgency. From intimate character studies to bold reimaginings of familiar myths, the 82nd Venice Film Festival is poised to deliver a season-defining slate of films.
