At 81 and 150 Films, When Will France’s Greatest Actress Return to Cinema?

Reuniting with François Ozon since “8 Women” in 2002, Catherine Deneuve stars in the 2010 film “Potiche.” Set in 1977 in a French province, Deneuve plays Suzanne Pujol, a submissive wife to the domineering industrialist Robert Pujol (Gérard Depardieu). After a strike and her husband’s detainment, Suzanne steps in to manage the factory and emerges as a decisive leader. However, Robert’s return in good health disrupts the new status quo.

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An icon of both French and international cinema, Catherine Deneuve has been honored with a César Award for Lifetime Achievement, five nominations, and a Cannes Honorary Palme d’Or. She will soon appear in several new film projects.

Under the Direction of Kervern and Delépine

Following their 2022 satirical comedy “At the Same Time,” filmmakers Benoît Delépine and Gustave Kervern are back with their eighth joint venture. In “Dada,” Catherine Deneuve portrays the owner of a struggling circus who reunites with her son, a recent psychiatric hospital releasee with total amnesia.

The film’s producer, Sylvie Pialat, describes the movie as a filmmakers’ tribute to René Clair’s “Entr’acte.” She characterizes it as “truly Dada — both funny and poetic.”

Adapting a Bestselling Comic Book

“Peau d’homme,” having sold over 100,000 copies and received numerous awards, was also a huge hit on stage with its theatrical adaptation earning five Molière Award nominations. For its film adaptation, the main role, originally played by Laure Calamy on stage, is expected to be performed by popular singer Claire Pommet (Pomme). Catherine Deneuve will play the godmother, reuniting with director Léa Domenach after their collaboration on “Bernadette.”

This choice is particularly intriguing for a musical comedy that revisits a fairy tale with a focus on gender issues and a critique of patriarchal society, especially since Deneuve became a cinema icon with her role in Jacques Demy’s “Donkey Skin.” The cast also includes Laurent Stocker of the Comédie-Française as the king, Karin Viard as the queen, and actors like Stefan Crépon, Louis Peres, Eddy de Pretto, Melha Bedia, Esteban, Gilbert Melki, and Paul de Saint Sernin as the charming prince.

Marie Kreutzer’s New Film

Following “Corsage,” director Marie Kreutzer brings together Léa Seydoux and Catherine Deneuve for the first time in “Gentle Monster.” Representing their respective generations, these two French actresses collaborate on a narrative blending intimate drama with psychological tension.

The storyline follows Lucy, a pianist who moves to the countryside with her husband and uncovers a shocking truth. Meanwhile, Elsa, a dedicated police detective, takes care of her father with dementia. Their lives intertwine amidst men with sinister secrets. The film’s artistic team includes director of photography Judith Kaufmann and editor Ulrike Kofler, a regular collaborator with Kreutzer. The release is scheduled for spring 2026.

A Multi-Award-Winning Director and a Stellar Cast

Finally, Catherine Deneuve is set to star in “Parallel Stories,” the upcoming film from acclaimed Iranian director Asghar Farhadi (“A Separation,” “The Past”).

Following his 2021 Cannes Grand Prix winner “A Hero,” Farhadi will start shooting this new project in Paris this fall. The cast includes notable talents such as Isabelle Huppert, Virginie Efira, Vincent Cassel, Pierre Niney, and Adam Bessa, with Deneuve in a special appearance. The plot details remain under wraps.