Alfonso Cuarón, Cate Blanchett Unveil Big-Budget Apple TV+ Series ‘Disclaimer’ in Venice

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As a seasoned cinephile who has been fortunate enough to witness the evolution of cinema from its humble beginnings to the grandeur of modern-day storytelling, I must say that Alfonso Cuarón’s latest venture, “Disclaimer,” is an absolute masterstroke. The man behind such cinematic wonders as Gravity, Children of Men, and Roma has once again proven his unparalleled ability to weave captivating narratives that leave audiences spellbound.

Five-time Academy Award winner Alfonso Cuarón has at last unveiled his grand premiere of a high-budget streaming series titled, “Disclaimer“.

On the fourth day of the Venice Film Festival, the psychological thriller featuring award-winning actors Cate Blanchett and Kevin Kline held its initial press screenings in Italy. Afterward, the director and his distinguished cast had a meeting with the media on Lido to talk about the making of the film and its central themes.

The Apple Studios series, spread across seven episodes, is adapted from Renée Knight’s top-selling novel with the same title. A diverse cast includes Sacha Baron Cohen, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Lesley Manville, Louis Partridge, Leila George, Hoyeon, and Indira Varma, who serves as the storyteller.

“Cuarón stated that upon reading the book, it instantly conjured up a movie in his mind, yet he didn’t initially know how to bring that film to life. He elaborated on why he decided to turn Knight’s book into a series instead. ‘The movie I envisioned was simply too extensive for a single film.’ It wasn’t until much later that the concept of adapting it into a longer format struck him. ‘This format is one I respect, as many remarkable artists have experimented with it — from Fassbender to David Lynch to Kieślowski,’ he added.”

Disclaimer‘s official summary reads: “Acclaimed journalist Catherine Ravenscroft (Blanchett) built her reputation revealing the misdeeds and transgressions of others. When she receives a novel from an unknown author, she is horrified to realize she is now the main character in a story that exposes her darkest secrets. As Catherine races to uncover the writer’s true identity, she is forced to confront her past before it destroys both her own life and her relationships with her husband Robert (Baron Cohen) and their son Nicholas (Smit-McPhee).”

From the outset, Cuaron envisioned Blanchett for the role in “Disclaimer”. He admitted, “As I penned the script, Cate was already a part of it. I was apprehensive that she might decline, as she was such a significant figure in my imagination and the way I visualized the entire story.”

“Blanchett mentioned that her character conceals distressing events from the past. She pondered over the impact of suppressed memories and the consequences of not addressing them. She found this exploration intriguing, yet difficult.”

The idea to cast Kevin Kline, who plays a British character in the series, came from Blanchett.

In conversation, Cuarón mentioned the movie “A Fish Called Wanda,” a 1988 hit that earned Kline the Best Supporting Actor Oscar. He exclaimed, “Kevin!” and instantly added, “Why not consider Kevin?”

Kline expressed that he felt completely secure under Cuarón’s direction, praising him for being exceptionally open about his thought process during the filming of “Roma,” which made acting more straightforward when giving an emotional performance.

Alfonso Cuarón stated that he approached the series in a cinematic manner, saying “I’m not sure how to direct television. At this point in my life, I think it might be too late for me to learn. So, there was no discussion about doing something different—whether with the cinematographer or otherwise. We treated it all as if we were making a film. We approached it like a movie.”

The director openly acknowledged that the production process wasn’t straightforward, as he confessed his method led to prolonged, exhausting workdays and a filming period spanning nearly an entire year. Cuarón expressed empathy, stating it was akin to producing “seven films,” adding that he deeply sympathizes with the actors due to their extended immersion in their characters.

As a devoted fan, I’m thrilled to share that the series I can’t wait to see will have its grand debut on the red carpet in Venice this Thursday evening! Now, jokingly, Cate Blanchett hinted she might attend the gala screening au naturel. Quite intriguing, isn’t it? The series will be available globally on Apple TV+ from October 11, with the first two episodes dropping initially, followed by new episodes every Friday. This production marks Alejandro Cuarón’s inaugural show under his overall agreement with Apple Studios.

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2024-08-29 14:24