With test screenings recently taking place, an MPAA rating of R slapped on (for language throughout, some sexual content and brief violence) and as of this week, cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki saying he’s about to finish his work on it, it looked like all the pieces were falling together for Alejandro González Iñárritu‘s Birdman to grace Cannes Film Festival, but that won’t be the case.
Taking a nod from last year’s successful 12 Years a Slave (which also had test screenings and an MPAA rating at this time last year), distributor Fox Searchlight have now set the film for a limited release October 17th, 2014. They’ve confirmed with Deadline that the film won’t be ready for Cannes, instead likely to bow in the fall (Toronto International Film Festival would be our best guess).
As for the film, after a string of dark dramas, Iñárritu is embarking on a major departure with Birdman, crafting a superhero film…in a way. The dark comedy stars Michael Keaton, as a once-famous actor, known for his iconic superhero role of our title character. The story in the film only tracks a few days, as he attempts to mount a Broadway play and reclaim his personal life. Also starring Lindsay Duncan, Zach Galifianakis, Edward Norton, Andrea Riseborough, Amy Ryan, Emma Stone, and Naomi Watts, we’re greatly looking forward to the results.
What do you think of this release plan?