Julia Roberts Premieres After the Hunt at Venice, Sparking #MeToo Conversations
Acclaimed actress Julia Roberts made her long-awaited debut at the Venice International Film Festival today, with the world premiere of After the Hunt, a provocative psychological thriller directed by Luca Guadagnino. The film debuted out of competition but immediately ignited discussions around #MeToo culture and moral complexity.
A Tense, Thought-Provoking Narrative
In After the Hunt, Roberts portrays Alma, a revered philosophy professor ensnared in a scandal when her mentee (Ayo Edebiri) accuses a close colleague (Andrew Garfield) of inappropriate conduct. The story, penned by first-time screenwriter Nora Garrett, resists easy moral judgments, instead challenging audiences to grapple with uncomfortable questions about power, truth, and responsibility.
At the press conference, Roberts rejected notions that the film undercuts feminist progress, clarifying that the intent is not to revive adversarial discourse among women, but to provoke thoughtful dialogue. “Not everything is supposed to make you feel comfortable,” she remarked.
Guadagnino echoed this sentiment, describing the film as a collision of competing truths rather than a manifesto of old values.
Visually, the film nods to Woody Allen-inspired aesthetics, an homage Guadagnino confirmed as purposefully provocative.
High-Profile Festival Premiere
The film premiered at the 82nd Venice Film Festival on August 29 in an out-of-competition slot by the studio’s request, despite being considered strong enough for the main lineup.
The Venice spotlight is just the beginning. After the Hunt is scheduled to open the 63rd New York Film Festival on September 26, followed by a North American theatrical release via Amazon MGM Studios on October 10.
Cast, Crew & Craftsmanship
The cast also includes Michael Stuhlbarg and Chloë Sevigny. Backing the project is an inventive creative team: screenwriter Nora Garrett; music by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross; and cinematography by Malik Hassan Sayeed.