Director David Cronenberg's last film was the 2014 film Map of the Stars. He hasn't directed a film since. For a while, it seemed Cronenberg might even retire, citing the difficulty in securing funding for his less-than-commercial, artistically-driven films. And while Cronenberg managed to stay in people's minds by recently having a recurring role in front of the camera on Star Trek Discovery as Federation agent Kovich, as of yesterday it looks like Cronenberg is back in the director's chair for Crimes of the Future! His regular on-screen collaborator Viggo Mortensen will be leading the film as well.
However, there was some confusion as his newest film shared the same title as his low-budget 1970 film of the same name, which was about a world where all sexually matured women have suddenly died and the ramifications of that catastrophe. Obviously, this plot of that film (and it's obvious narrative paths) would probably not go over well in today's world. Luckily, a synopsis has been released today (along with the main cast list) that reveals his newest film will only share the title of his 1970 film. Though, his new original sci-fi story is being done because, in his words, "I have unfinished business with the future". The synopsis is as follows:
[The film takes] 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 (Played by Mortensen) 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.
The film will be backed and distributed by the production company NEON along with producer Robert Lantos who had this to say:
“To work with David Cronenberg is to embark on a journey exploring terrain where no one has gone before. Each of our collaborations has been an exhilarating adventure and David’s unwavering vision is what real cinema is all about.”
Mortensen will be joined on-screen by Léa Seydoux, Kristen Stewart, Scott Speedman, Welket Bungué, Don McKellar, and Lihi Kornowski. Production is expected to begin this August in Greece for a 30-day shoot. No release date has been announced as of yet. Stay tuned!
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