New Guadagnino Film Begins Soon — Is It 'Separate Rooms' or 'Artificial'? Casting Details May Reveal the Answer
A quiet casting call may hold the big reveal.
Luca Guadagnino is headed back to set this summer — and once again, he’s keeping things delightfully ambiguous. A casting notice quietly posted by the Torino Film Commission has tipped off keen-eyed followers that the Italian director is preparing to shoot a new 'international film' between July and September. The call is specifically seeking Northern Italian locals as extras. Innocent detail? Or a subtle clue?
While no title is attached, speculation is already swirling around two frontrunners. First up is Separate Rooms, an adaptation of Pier Vittorio Tondelli’s deeply personal 1989 novel, which follows writer Leo as he grieves the loss of his partner, Thomas, through a series of lyrical, time-shifting flashbacks. Set largely in Italy — and written by one of the country's most influential postwar authors — the story seems a natural fit for a homegrown production. Léa Seydoux is still attached to star in the film, despite Josh O’Connor recently stepping away from the project — he’s now reportedly joining Joel Coen’s Jack of Spades.
The other likely contender is Artificial, a contemporary story centred on Sam Altman from OpenAI. With a script by Saturday Night Live alum Simon Rich and a cast that includes Andrew Garfield and Anora breakout Yura Borisov, the film was previously reported to shoot in both San Francisco and Italy. The timing fits, and given that Sgt. Rock, a DC title Guadagnino had lined up with Colin Farrell, appears to have stalled, Artificial could have easily taken its place.
For now, we’re left to guess — though the distinctly Italian flavour of the casting call might tilt the odds in favour of Separate Rooms. Then again, when it comes to Guadagnino, it’s rarely wise to bet on the obvious. One thing’s for sure: once the cameras stop rolling, the director won’t have far to go—his latest feature, After the Hunt, is expected to premiere at the Venice Film Festival this autumn. Tireless, isn’t he?
