Director Damien Chazelle’s “First Man” will be the opening-night film at the 2018 Venice International Film Festival, TheWrap has confirmed.
It will be the second consecutive Venice opening for Chazelle, whose 2016 Oscar nominee “La La Land” premiered in Venice.
“First Man” stars Ryan Gosling as Neil Armstrong, the U.S. astronaut who became the first man to walk on the moon. It is based on the Armstrong biography by James R. Hansen, with a script from Josh Singer. Universal has scheduled its theatrical release for October 12, in the thick of an awards season in which it is considered a strong contender sight unseen.
The Venice premiere will take place on August 29, at the beginning of the 75th anniversary edition of the festival.
The rest of the Venice lineup will be announced on July 25, one day after the Toronto International Film Festival announces its 2018 lineup.
Variety first reported the news.