Cannes boss Thierry Frémaux hopes Hollywood returns as studio films skip festival

Cannes Film Festival is facing renewed questions over Hollywood’s reduced presence at this year’s edition, with festival leadership expressing hope that major studio films will eventually return to the Croisette.

Festival director Thierry Frémaux addressed concerns during a press conference on Sunday, responding to criticism that big studio productions have largely skipped high-profile premieres at Cannes this year.

“I hope the studio films will come back,” Frémaux said, acknowledging the noticeable absence of major Hollywood tentpoles from the official lineup.

In recent years, several major studio releases that premiered at Cannes have struggled critically or commercially, including titles such as Furiosa, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, and Pixar’s Elemental, which contributed to studios becoming more cautious about festival premieres.

At the same time, Frémaux pointed to past success stories where Cannes debuts boosted major global releases, including Top Gun: Maverick, which went on to become a major box office hit, and Elvis, which earned multiple Academy Award nominations and helped elevate Austin Butler’s career.

He noted that each studio ultimately decides its own release strategy, particularly in an evolving industry landscape shaped by shifting release windows and streaming competition.

Frémaux also addressed speculation around several high-profile films that were expected but did not appear at this year’s festival, saying Cannes does not comment on projects that are not part of its official selection.

Reports suggested that Universal’s upcoming sci-fi project Disclosure Day was not ready in time for the festival, while Disney reportedly opted against bringing its latest Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu installment following previous box office setbacks in the franchise.

Despite the absence of several Hollywood blockbusters, Frémaux emphasized that American cinema remains present at the festival through titles such as Paper Tiger, The Man I Love, and Steven Soderbergh’s documentary John Lennon: The Last Interview.

He also highlighted a special midnight screening celebrating the 25th anniversary of Fast & Furious, describing the long-running franchise as a “phenomenon in contemporary cinema.”