Bloom and Herzog Discuss 'Sincere' Intimacy in 'Bucking Fastard'

Key points

• Orlando Bloom stated the threesome scene with Rooney and Kate Mara was a 'very sincere sort of moment' created by the actors.
• Werner Herzog said he could not give instructions for the scene, telling Bloom to handle the situation with the two women in his own way.
• The film features Bloom as Gareth, a sensitive man who is 'out of his depth' with the twin sisters Joan and Jean.
• Herzog described Bloom’s performance as a 'new terrain' that moves him away from his famous teen heartthrob persona.
• The film is loosely based on the real-life identical twins Freda and Greta Chaplin and was written in five days.
• Herzog is currently working on an animated adaptation of his book 'The Twilight World' and is writing two new books.

Background

Bucking Fastard is Werner Herzog’s first fiction film since 2019, produced by HanWay Films and financed by Clara Wu Tsai. The project was greenlit after producer Jeremy Thomas suggested pairing the Mara sisters, who have never acted together before. The film premiered at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival in September 2026, where the cast received a standing ovation. It is dedicated to David Lynch and features a climactic scene with a real deer in an Irish cave, reflecting Herzog’s preference for practical effects over digital ones.

How outlets are covering it

E! Online and Page Six focused on the personal dynamics of the scene, quoting Bloom’s description of the moment as 'sincere' and highlighting the 'innocence' of the sisters. Page Six also noted Bloom’s recent personal life, including his split from Katy Perry and vacationing with their daughter. Variety provided a broader industry perspective, emphasizing Herzog’s directing philosophy and his praise for Bloom’s career evolution. Variety also reported Herzog’s comments on the dangers of AI and his upcoming animated project, 'The Twilight World,' which the other outlets did not detail. All three sources agree on the core quotes from the San Sebastián Film Festival appearances but differ in their emphasis on the film’s production history versus the actors' personal lives.

Why it matters

The film represents a significant departure for both the director and the lead actor. For Herzog, it is his first fiction feature in seven years, showcasing a return to narrative storytelling after a long period of documentary work. For Bloom, it marks a deliberate shift away from his 'Pirates of the Caribbean' and 'Lord of the Rings' era, as Herzog explicitly encouraged him to grow a beard and adopt a more 'manly' persona to break his previous image. The film’s success at Venice and its unique premise—based on real-life twins who speak in unison—demonstrate the continued viability of auteur-driven cinema in a market increasingly dominated by AI and algorithmic content, a topic Herzog addressed during the same press tour.

What to watch

Werner Herzog is expected to wrap his next project, an animated adaptation of his book 'The Twilight World,' within three days of his San Sebastián appearance. He is also currently writing two new books and continuing to develop scripts for future projects. Bucking Fastard is distributed by HanWay Films and is expected to continue its festival run, potentially leading to a wider theatrical release. Orlando Bloom is expected to continue his transition into more complex, character-driven roles, as Herzog predicted 'beautiful stuff' is coming from him in the future.