New Keanu Reeves & Kirsten Dunst Movie May Be Delayed Until 2027 — And the Director Says the Film Is Simply Too Big to Rush

A highly anticipated black comedy starring Keanu Reeves and Kirsten Dunst may not arrive when fans expected — and the reason behind the delay is as ambitious as the film itself.

The Entertainment System Is Down, the latest project from Oscar-nominated filmmaker Ruben Östlund, is now being considered for a 2027 release, pushing it a full year beyond earlier expectations. The film was widely rumored to premiere at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, followed by a release later that year. That plan is now very much up in the air.

Speaking from the Göteborg Film Festival, Östlund revealed that a final decision will be made at the end of February — and Cannes 2027 is officially on the table.

“At the end of February, we’re going to decide whether to go to Cannes this year, or actually wait and edit one more year before we release the film,” Östlund told Deadline.

The potential delay isn’t due to reshoots, scheduling conflicts, or studio interference. Instead, Östlund says the film’s editing process has become monumental — and rushing it would be a mistake.

Thanks to advanced filmmaking technology, Östlund explained, scenes were shot with cameras rolling almost constantly. Using VR mapping, the production captured massive amounts of footage — far more than traditional films.

Now, that abundance has become the challenge.

“When I’m editing, I basically have to edit down 60 minutes of material into a one-minute scene,” Östlund said. “It’s a huge amount of material and will take a long time, and I have to pay the material respect.”

In other words, this is not a film you can simply trim and ship.

The movie itself is as unconventional as its production. The Entertainment System Is Down centers on a group of passengers forced to confront pure boredom when the in-flight entertainment system fails — a deceptively simple premise that Östlund uses to explore human behavior, discomfort, privilege, and modern dependency on distraction.

It’s exactly the kind of sharply satirical setup that made Östlund famous with films like Triangle of Sadness and The Square — both Cannes sensations.

And the cast is stacked.

Alongside Reeves and Dunst, the ensemble includes Daniel Brühl, Samantha Morton, Nicholas Braun, Julie Delpy, Tobias Menzies, Vincent Lindon, Lindsay Duncan, and many more, making it one of the most ambitious casts Östlund has assembled to date.

Östlund both writes and directs the feature, with longtime collaborator Erik Hemmendorff producing alongside Philippe Bober. Indie powerhouse A24 will handle U.S. distribution, further fueling expectations for an awards-season heavyweight.

While delays often frustrate audiences, this one appears rooted in artistic precision rather than production trouble. Östlund has built his reputation on films that spark debate, divide critics, and linger long after the credits roll — and he seems determined not to compromise that standard.

If the film does wait until Cannes 2027, it could arrive as an even bigger event — one shaped carefully over time, rather than rushed into the spotlight.

For now, fans of Keanu Reeves, Kirsten Dunst, and bold, uncomfortable cinema will have to practice the very thing the movie is about: sitting with boredom.