Richard Linklater Hopes to Direct a French-Language New Wave Film Shot in Paris

Richard Linklater
Getty Images for Netflix

In a conversation with fellow auteur Gregg Araki for Interview Magazine, Richard Linklater revealed that he hopes to shoot a movie in French, shot on location in Paris.

Araki said to the director, ā€œI saw Ruby Rich last night. She did the Q&A for our ā€˜Nowhere’ screening at IFC Center. And she was saying that you’re shooting something in Paris?ā€

Linklater corrected that he isn’t shooting there yet, but confirmed his dream to do so: ā€œYeah, in French. It’s like a New Wave film.ā€

Linklater has thus far only made English-language films, but he has shot in France before. The second film in his ā€œBeforeā€ romance trilogy, ā€œBefore Sunset,ā€ starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, takes place in Paris. With the American Jesse falling in love with French CĆ©line over the course of one day in Vienna in the first film ā€œBefore Sunrise,ā€ their different nationalities play a significant role in their relationship. They find themselves reconnecting over the course of a single day in Paris in Linklater’s follow up.

Araki shared his aspiration to also one day shoot in France: ā€œI’ve always had a dream about shooting in France because my movies are so loved in France. They love auteurs over there. But I don’t like to leave the house. It’s so crazy that I’m actually in New York.ā€

The work of Linklater is appreciated in France as well; In 2019, the Centre Pompidou in Paris exhibited a Richard Linklater retrospective focused on how he showcases time in his films.

Araki and Linklater sat down to chat on Zoom for Interview Magazine, with Araki’s films ā€œNowhereā€ and ā€œDoom Generationā€ receiving new 4K restorations and Linklater promoting his latest feature ā€œHit Man,ā€ which was acquired by Netflix at TIFF for $20 million.

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Variety has reached out to Linklater’s production company for comment.

From Variety US