The filmmaker reportedly wanted his controversial serial-killer drama in competition for the Golden Lion, not sitting on the sidelines, and Venice's own chief confirmed the snub.
Vincent Gallo has never been one to play by Hollywood's rules — and his latest move proves it. The Vincent Gallo-directed thriller starring James Franco was reportedly offered a coveted slot at the Venice Film Festival this year, only for Gallo to turn it down. Here's everything you need to know about why the notoriously unpredictable director walked away from one of the biggest stages in film.
Key Facts
- Venice offered Gallo's film an out-of-competition slot, but he declined it, per festival chief Alberto Barbera.
- The movie, once titled The Policeman, is now known as Golden State Killer.
- Gallo, sixty-two, plays real-life serial killer Joseph James DeAngelo; Franco plays the detective chasing him.
- The film shot in late 2023 and has spent nearly three years in post-production.
- It marks Gallo's first directing effort since Promises Written in Water in 2010.
What Happened at Venice
The story broke when Alberto Barbera, the artistic director of the Venice Film Festival, opened up to Variety about a movie that almost made this year's lineup. Barbera revealed that Venice "almost" took Gallo's film, but Gallo ultimately decided against participating. That's a striking admission — festivals rarely discuss films that didn't make the final cut.
According to Barbera, organizers were genuinely enthusiastic about the project. He said Venice told Gallo, "We like the film very much," while acknowledging the movie would be polarizing. The catch, per Barbera, was that Venice wanted the film out of competition rather than in the main race for the Golden Lion.
That distinction turned out to be the sticking point. Gallo ultimately declined the offer, reportedly because he wanted the film to compete for the festival's top prize rather than screen out of competition. It's a bold call for a filmmaker who hasn't had a movie in wide release in over a decade.
This isn't the first time Gallo has clashed with a festival over billing. The film was pulled after Venice offered it out-of-competition status, with Barbera saying the film's provocative content kept it from Golden Lion consideration — a category Gallo reportedly wanted. Fans hoping for a Franco red-carpet moment this year will have to keep waiting.
Inside the Film Itself
So what exactly is this movie everyone's talking about? Gallo was set to appear alongside James Franco in Jordan Gertner's film, playing serial killer and rapist Joseph James DeAngelo — better known as the Golden State Killer. Franco takes on the role of the detective racing to stop him.
The project has quietly become one of the most-watched comeback stories in film. It marks Gallo's first Hollywood production since Tetro in 2009, and Franco's first Hollywood production since The Ballad of Buster Scruggs in 2018. Both actors had spent the years in between working mostly with European filmmakers, so this reunion carries real weight for longtime fans of either man.
Franco's involvement adds another layer of scrutiny. His role marks one of the actor's higher-profile projects since largely stepping back from studio filmmaking following a 2021 legal settlement tied to sexual misconduct allegations from former students. That backstory has followed the project through every stage of its slow rollout.
Read more: Dave Franco Thought Now You See Me Would Fail, Costars Reveal
Gallo's History of Going His Own Way
If this all feels familiar, it's because Gallo has built an entire career on defying convention. He's a former Venice Best Actor winner known for provocative work, including The Brown Bunny, and has built a reputation for unconventional creative choices both in front of and behind the camera. That 2003 Cannes premiere remains one of the more talked-about moments in the festival's recent history.
His instinct to hold out for competition status, rather than accept a smaller spotlight, fits that same pattern. His decision to pass on Venice in favor of holding out for a competition slot elsewhere means the film missed out on what would have been a high-profile platform. It's a gamble, but one that tracks with everything fans already know about him.
Meanwhile, the film's long road to release has become a story of its own. Golden State Killer secured a domestic distribution deal with Lionsgate's genre label Grindstone during the Cannes market in 2025, and Gallo had previously indicated the film was coming "soon." Three years of post-production have only fueled anticipation — and a fair amount of skepticism — among longtime followers of Gallo's work.
Read more: John Malkovich Fights Back Tears During 13-Minute Standing Ovation for Wild Horse Nine at Venice
What's Next for the Film
For now, Golden State Killer remains without a firm release date. The Venice snub means the film's premiere will happen somewhere else entirely — likely another festival where Gallo hopes to land the competition slot he's been chasing.
Fans of Gallo's earlier work know better than to expect a conventional rollout. Between the shifting titles, the years-long post-production, and now a very public festival standoff, the film has generated headlines before a single ticket has gone on sale. Keep checking back with Bigwritehook for updates on when — and where — Golden State Killer finally makes its debut.
The Bottom Line
Vincent Gallo's decision to walk away from Venice says everything about the filmmaker fans already thought they knew — stubborn, provocative, and unwilling to settle for second billing. Whether Golden State Killer eventually lands the competition slot Gallo wants remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: this won't be the last headline this project generates.
Sources
- Alberto Barbera's comments to Variety, via World of Reel
- AV Club: "Vincent Gallo's new film deemed 'too provocative' to screen in competition at Venice"
- Comic Basics: "Venice Film Festival Director Says 'We Didn't Care' About James Franco's Presence"
