Frémaux Defends Cannes' Thin Hollywood Slate as Studios Skip 2026 Premieres
Updated
Updated · Deadline · May 11
Frémaux Defends Cannes' Thin Hollywood Slate as Studios Skip 2026 Premieres
5 articles · Updated · Deadline · May 11
Thierry Frémaux said Cannes still wants studio films back, but major Hollywood premieres are largely absent from the 2026 festival lineup.
Past Cannes launches for summer tentpoles such as Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, Elemental and Furiosa drew weak reviews and disappointing box office, reinforcing studios' more cautious release strategies.
Frémaux said each studio now follows its own plan; Universal's Disclosure Day reportedly was not ready, while Disney was unlikely to bring Star Wars: Mandalorian and Grogu after earlier Lucasfilm disappointments at Cannes.
Universal instead proposed a Fast & Furious 25th anniversary midnight screening with cast, and Paramount is mounting a 40th anniversary Top Gun screening.
Frémaux argued U.S. cinema remains present through titles from James Gray, Ira Sachs and Steven Soderbergh, while Hollywood continues to reset after Covid, strikes and mergers.
With the box office recovering, why are Hollywood studios still shunning festival premieres for their biggest films?
Can independent cinema and new tech partnerships fill the void left by Hollywood's biggest blockbusters at major film festivals?