Werner Herzog Rejects Cannes Film Festival Invite After Bucking Fastard Misses Competition Slot

The red carpet may still be weeks away, but conversations around this year’s Cannes Film Festival are already heating up for reasons beyond the official lineup. One of the biggest talking points currently involves legendary filmmaker Werner Herzog, whose latest project unexpectedly stepped away from the festival despite receiving an invitation.

Herzog’s upcoming English-language drama Bucking Fastard was originally expected to be part of Cannes 2026. However, according to reports, the director declined the invitation after learning the film would not be included in the competition section.

As reported by Variety, a spokesperson confirmed that the film had indeed been invited to screen at the festival, but only outside the main competition lineup.

Herzog reportedly disagreed with that decision and chose not to participate.

According to the report, the filmmaker wanted actors Kate Mara and Rooney Mara to remain eligible for awards consideration, something that would not happen if the film screened out of competition. Interestingly, Bucking Fastard had initially appeared in Cannes’ early lineup announcement before the situation changed.

The project has already generated curiosity because it marks the first time real-life sisters Kate and Rooney Mara are sharing screen space in a film together. In the drama, they play twin sisters Jean and Joan Holbrooke, characters inspired by a strange and fascinating real-life story.

The film follows the twins as they search for an imaginary place where true love exists. Their unusual journey eventually leads them to dig a tunnel through a mountain range in hopes of reaching it. Herzog reportedly drew inspiration from British twins Freda and Greta Chaplin, who became widely known in the 1980s after a man connected to both sisters filed a restraining order against them. Even the title of the film comes from a synchronised verbal slip the twins made during court proceedings.

Apart from the Mara sisters, the cast also includes Orlando Bloom and Domhnall Gleeson.

Kate Mara has already spoken warmly about the experience of working on the project with both Herzog and her sister. In conversations with Variety and The Hollywood Reporter, she described the film as deeply special for her personally and professionally.

She called the collaboration a “dream scenario” and also shared, “We could have never imagined finding two roles in a film where we’re literally equals in so many ways, and it was just so perfect.”

The film was written and directed by Herzog and shot across Ireland and Slovenia.

Interestingly, this is not the first time a filmmaker has reportedly turned away from Cannes over competition placement. Last year, director Jim Jarmusch also declined the festival after his film Father Mother Sister Brother was not offered a competition slot. That film later premiered at the Venice International Film Festival, where it went on to win the Golden Lion.