Venice Film Festival unveils A-list lineup

Bradley Cooper's Leonard Bernstein drama "Maestro," Sofia Coppola's Priscilla Presley movie, Michael Mann's "Ferrari," David Fincher's "The Killer" and Ava DuVernay's "Origin" will make their world debuts at the Venice International Film Festival this fall.

Organizers announced the lineup on July 25 for the 80th edition of the festival, which - despite the flashy names behind the films - could have a little less Hollywood glamour than usual gracing its picturesque docks and red carpet come September if the Hollywood actors and writers strikes stretch on. As part of the strike, actors cannot promote projects from the studios and streamers with whom the union is negotiating.

The prestigious film festival already lost one high-profile premiere to the labor disputes in the U.S. in Luca Guadagnino's tennis drama "Challengers, " starring Zendaya, which had been set to play in the opening night slot but has now been pushed to 2024. But Alberto Barbera, the director of the Venice Film Festival, said that the strikes' effects on the festival lineup had otherwise been minimal.

"Priscilla," an A24 film based on Priscilla Presley's memoir "Elvis and Me," stars Cailee Spaeny and Jacob Elordi and was widely expected to be in the festival. Coppola also launched "Somewhere" in Venice in 2010. "Priscilla" will be competing for the Golden Lion alongside "Ferrari," the buzzy racing drama starring Adam Driver as Enzo Ferrari, and Penélope Cruz as his wife Laura, based on Brock Yates' biography.

Yorgos Lanthimos' highly anticipated "Poor Things," with Emma Stone and Mark Ruffalo, will also have its bow on the Lido. Lanthimos previously launched "The Favourite" at Venice in 2018; it would go on to score 10 Oscar nominations and win one.

DuVernay's...