Cannes 2023 looks set to be one of the most memorable editions yet. On the Croisette, the big stars and American idols have returned, possibly to compete with Venice or due to the post-pandemic effect. The program kicks off today, with the opening and the grand return of one of the most iconic idols, Johnny Depp. The actor has a long history with Cannes, especially during his relationship with Vanessa Paradis. After a legal battle with his ex-wife Amber Heard, Depp is back and inaugurates the seventy-sixth edition with a film based on the story of Jeanne Du Barry, the king’s favorite. His daughter Lily Rose Depp will also be there, starring in the out-of-competition series The Idol alongside The Weeknd, who is also producing it. On the red carpet, Michael Douglas will be accompanied by his wife Catherine Zeta Jones, and will receive the Golden Palm for his career. The international preview of Indiana Jones and the Destiny Quadrant, the fifth chapter of the saga starring Harrison Ford, is highly anticipated. Joining him will be Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Antonio Banderas. Cannes 2023 will also see the premiere of Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, which will bring Leonardo DiCaprio back to the Croisette, who has been absent since 2019. Robert De Niro is also expected, and Cannes 2023 will also witness the return of Pedro Almodóvar with his short Strange Way of Life, starring Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal. Quentin Tarantino will also be present, as a guest of the Quinzaine des Cinéastes 2023, and Cannes 2023 will also see the star-studded cast of Wes Anderson’s film, Asteroid City. On the red carpet of the opening ceremony, there will also be Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman, the protagonists of Todd Haynes’ drama in competition, May December.
The Italian presence is also strong, with three films in competition. Nanni Moretti’s The Sun of the Future stars Margherita Buy, Silvio Orlando and Barbora Bobulova. In Marco Bellocchio’s Kidnapped, there are Fabrizio Gifuni, Paolo Pierobon, Barbara Ronchi, Enea Sala, Leonardo Maltese and Filippo Timi. In Alice Rohrwacher’s Chimera, there is an international couple: the Englishman Josh O’Connor and Carol Duarte.
Cannes 2023 is sure to be a memorable event, with the return of many iconic stars and the presence of many more. The beauty looks on the first red carpet are sure to be unforgettable, as the stars compete in style. Johnny Depp’s return is a statement, and a challenge to Venice. All eyes will be on the Croisette in the coming days.
