Wes Anderson’s “Moonrise Kingdom” is set to open the 65th Cannes Film Festival.
Cannes delegate general Thierry Fremaux announced Thursday that the film had been selected for the fest’s prestigious opening-night slot, though it remains unclear whether it will play in or out of competition.
Cannes kicks off May 16, the same day “Moonrise” is slated to open in French theaters through Studiocanal. A Croisette berth has seemed likely ever since Focus Features announced the pic would open May 25 Stateside.
An ensembler set in 1960s New England and featuring Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Frances McDorman, Tilda Swinton, Jason Schwartzman and Bob Balaban, “Moonrise Kingdom” is Anderson’s live-action follow-up to his 2009 stop-motion toon, “Fantastic Mr. Fox.”
Fest has tended to open with U.S. studio/specialty-division titles in recent years, such as Disney-Pixar’s “Up” (2009), Universal’s “Robin Hood” (2010) and Sony Classics’ “Midnight in Paris” (2011).
Fest runs May 16-27.
