Werner Herzog's anticipated film, "Bucking Fastard," will not be premiering at the Cannes Film Festival, despite earlier speculation and an initial announcement that included it in the lineup. A spokesperson for the film clarified that "Bucking Fastard" was invited as an official selection for the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, but the filmmakers ultimately declined the invitation. The primary reason for this decision was the absence of a coveted Cannes competition slot, which Herzog had hoped for, particularly to make stars Rooney and Kate Mara eligible for awards for their reportedly searing performances as twin sisters.

This stance by Herzog echoes a similar decision made by acclaimed director Jim Jarmusch regarding the 2025 edition of the festival. Jarmusch had also turned down Cannes after his film, "Father Mother Sister Brother," was not offered a competition slot. "I submitted it to Cannes, and we were told, 'It's not selected for competition. We might put it in a different section,'" Jarmusch recounted. He responded, "I haven't made a film in five years. I've been in Cannes many times. That's not appropriate to me." Jarmusch emphasized the importance of a competition slot not for the award itself, but for the film's profile upon release, which aids in securing investor payback and enabling future projects. Following its rejection from Cannes competition, Jarmusch's film went on to premiere at the Venice Film Festival, where it won the prestigious Golden Lion, the festival's top prize, and subsequently grossed $8.2 million globally.

"Bucking Fastard" features Rooney and Kate Mara as Jean and Joan Holbrooke, twin sisters who embark on a quest to find an imaginary land where true love exists, which involves digging a tunnel through a mountain range. The ensemble cast also includes Orlando Bloom and Domhnall Gleeson. HanWay and Gersh are responsible for handling the film's sales. Kate Mara expressed her profound positive experience working on the film in an interview, describing it as "one of the greatest experiences ever" and "like a dream scenario." She lauded Werner Herzog, stating, "Werner Herzog, there's nobody like him on the planet. So to be able to have that experience with him was magical. But then to have it with my sister, it's sort of what dreams are made of."