First Look: Isabelle Huppert & Stars in 2026’s Most Anticipated Film!

Here’s the trailer for Parallel Stories, featuring one of the most stellar French casts of 2026. It’s also set to be one of the grandest appearances at the upcoming Cannes Film Festival!

The latest film from Asghar Farhadi (A Separation, The Past) will compete at the Cannes Film Festival.

Excitingly, the film will hit theaters on Thursday, May 14, the same day it premieres at Cannes.

A Five-Star Cast

This new French feature by Iranian filmmaker gathers the crème de la crème of French cinema: Isabelle Huppert, Virginie Efira, Vincent Cassel, Pierre Niney, and Adam Bessa (noted in the film The Ghosts, and nominated in the Revelation category of the César 2025). Catherine Deneuve also makes a special appearance.

Here’s the poster and some photos:

The Official Synopsis Revealed

What will Parallel Stories be about? Until now, the details had been closely guarded. In an interview with AlloCiné, Pierre Niney shared a glimpse of the plot: “It’s about the fantasy of fiction and how fiction can become a virus in reality.”

The official synopsis has since been released by its distributor. Here it is: In search of inspiration for her new novel, Sylvie spies on her neighbors across the street. Unaware of what’s to come, she hires the young Adam to assist with her daily routines, not knowing he will turn her life and work upside down, blurring the lines between fiction and their reality.

Continuing in our interview, Pierre Niney added, “It’s very interesting. The script is superb.”

He also clarified that rumors suggesting the film would be about the Bataclan are entirely false: “It’s not at all about the Bataclan. I don’t know where that rumor started. Just goes to show, you have to check your sources!“

12 Years After The Past, Asghar Farhadi Returns to France

The filming took place in the fall of 2025. Iranian director Asghar Farhadi, whose last film, A Hero, won the Grand Prix at Cannes in 2021, has once again directed a film in French.

“This film marks his return to France after The Past with Tahar Rahim and Bérénice Bejo – Best Actress Award at Cannes in 2013 – which had attracted a million viewers in French cinemas”, reminds Memento.

Asghar Farhadi has received two Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film, for A Separation in 2012, and The Salesman in 2017. He has also received the César for Best Foreign Film for A Separation, and the Best Screenplay Award at the Cannes Film Festival 2016 for The Salesman.

AlloCiné, your daily source for over 40 articles on the latest in movies and TV shows, interviews, streaming recommendations, fun facts and fan insights about your favorite films and series. Subscribe to AlloCiné on Google Discover, and immerse yourself daily in a site designed by enthusiasts for enthusiasts.