Martin Scorsese‘s highly anticipated new feature, Killers of the flower moonwill have its world premiere at the 2023 Cannes Film Festivalconfirmed the organizers on Friday.
The Apple Originals feature, an epic about the serial murders of the members of the oil rich
Osage Nation in 1920s Oklahoma, stars Leonardo DiCaprioRobert DeNiro, Lily Gladstone,
Jesse Plemons, Cara Jade Myers, JaNae Collins, Jillian Dion and Tantoo Cardinal, all of whom are expected to join Scorsese at Cannes for the May 20 premiere.
The screening is Scorsese’s first film to be screened in the Official Selection at Cannes since then After hours took a bow in competition in 1986, which won Scorsese the Best Director award. From Scorsese Cab driver won Cannes’ Palme d’Or for best picture in 1976, and the director was head of the Cannes jury in 1998.
Adapted from David Grann’s bestseller and written for the screen by Scorsese and
Eric Roth (Dune, A star is born), Killers of the flower moon is one of the most anticipated films of the year and a major asset to Cannes. The film is also the cornerstone of Apple’s new $1 billion theatrical push which will see the tech giant ramp up its theatrical slate.
Killers of the flower moon will be out on an exclusive, limited theatrical release, in association with Paramount Pictures, on Friday, October 6 and wide on October 20 in the US. The French release is scheduled for October 18. It will then be streamed worldwide on Apple TV+.
Apple’s commitment to the big screen was likely a factor in Cannes’ decision. Streaming giant Netflix, which has refused to prioritize theatre, has been effectively banned from the Croisette.
Killers of the flower moon was produced by Apple Studios along with Imperative Entertainment, Sikelia Productions and Appian Way. Producers are Scorsese, Dan Friedkin, Bradley Thomas and
Daniel Lupi, with DiCaprio, Rick Yorn, Adam Somner, Marianne Bower, Lisa Frechette, John Atwood, Shea Kammer and Niels Juul serving as executive producers.