Full Breakdown
Brady Corbet's Untitled Epic Assembles Cate Blanchett, Selena Gomez, and Michael Fassbender
5/18/2026, 8:12:41 AM
Star-Studded Cast Confirmed at Cannes
During a masterclass at Cannes, Cate Blanchett announced she will work with director Brady Corbet. Variety later confirmed her involvement and added Selena Gomez and Michael Fassbender. The trio had been reported by InSneader earlier, combining an Oscar-winning veteran, a pop-star-turned-actress, and a leading man.
Corbet's Vision: Genre-Defying, X-Rated Epic Spanning Eras
Corbet describes the untitled film as an X-rated, genre-defying work spanning the 19th century to the present, with a focus on the 1970s. He says it will explore American mysticism, the occult, and immigration, using a looser style than his earlier films and pushing conventional boundaries.
Background & Context
Brady Corbet’s prior films—*The Childhood of a Leader*, *Vox Lux*, and the Oscar-nominated *The Brutalist*—are known for expansive narratives and experimental form. The upcoming untitled feature is his fourth film, positioned as a larger-scale, X-rated continuation of his genre-defying work.
Key Creative Figures
Brady Corbet, Oscar-nominated for *The Brutalist*, previously directed *The Childhood of a Leader* and *Vox Lux*, building a reputation for ambitious, genre-blurring cinema. Cate Blanchett, two-time Oscar winner for *The Aviator* and *Blue Jasmine*, recently earned a Golden Lion for *Father Mother Sister Brother*. Selena Gomez won a Cannes Best Actress award for *Emilia Pérez*, sharing the honor with Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofía Gascón, and Adriana Paz. Michael Fassbender, who co-starred with Blanchett in *The Brutalist*, adds further Oscar-nominated experience. Producer Andrew Morrison leads the project under Kaplan Morrison.
Production Details and Scale
The screenplay runs about 200 pages, longer than Corbet’s 165-page script for *The Brutalist*. The film will be shot on extremely rare eight-perf 65 mm cameras. Reported locations include Portugal and South Africa, with principal photography slated for summer 2026. No studio, distributor, or final title has been announced.
Official Statements & Responses
Corbet, speaking to *The Hollywood Reporter*, outlined the film’s temporal scope, X-rated tone, and genre-defying ambition, stressing its 1970s focus and a looser style than his earlier work. Representatives for Blanchett and Gomez have not responded to media inquiries. No further production details have been released.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the working title: some call the project “The Origin of the World,” others label it untitled. No studio or distribution partner is confirmed, and the final title remains unannounced. Character specifics, plot points, and a definitive schedule have not been disclosed.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The film spans from the 19th century into the present day — it’s just predominantly focused on the ’70s. The film is really, really genre-defying,” — Brady Corbet, Director
- “It is just predominantly focused on the '70s. The film is really, really genre-defying,” — Brady Corbet, Director
- “The film spans from the 19th century into the present day,” — Brady Corbet, Director
- “looser style” — Brady Corbet, Director
What’s Next
Production is slated for summer 2026, after which the film may enter the festival circuit. Observers note its unconventional format could affect awards prospects, pending distribution.
