Bel Ami finished filming in April 2010 (before Water for Elephants began shooting). Since then we’ve barely heard anything about when the movie will be released. We’ve seen a few stills, a trailer that was quickly pulled, we’ve heard whispers here and there but nothing has been officially confirmed by Protagonist film. We’ve heard that Bel Ami might premiere at TIFF (which we really, really hope will happen). However we have no official confirmation yet.
We’ve been wondering, what’s going on with Bel Ami? When will we get an official release date?
In an interview with Total Films back in March Rob said the following:
“We were really true to the book and because the guy is basically a shit who wins everything at the end it’s really difficult to market it – especially with me in it,” Pattinson tells TF exclusively.
“Everyone’s worried that everyone’s going to be thinking, ‘Oh I want him to be nice, he’s got to be nice to all the ladies’.”
Which means that they were having trouble marketing the movie because it would ruin Rob’s “good guy” image. However to me, this doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. All actors play various roles, good and bad. A role does not define the nature of the actor behind the character.
The trailer which was also seen by many people has received great reviews that can be sees here. Which means that people are anticipating this film.
Back in June 2010 Bel Ami was #8 on Shockya’s 10 most anticipated period films as you can see below.
8. Bel Ami
The Story of the rise to power of Georges Duroy in Paris by manipulating the city’s most influential and wealthy women. This film stars Twilight’s Robert Pattinson and many are anxiously waiting to see if Robert can hold his own against Hollywood sirens like Uma Thurman and Kristen Scott Thomas.
So my question is the following: The demand is there, when is it going to be released?
What do you guys think? Share your thoughts in the comments.
ETA From larry411 :
There’s a very simple answer to all your questions!
There’s a very good chance that the film will have its World Premiere at the Toronto Film Festival next month. I was told that it would be although we won’t know until next Tuesday when they announce the next round of Galas and Special Presentations. If it is, that would explain why there’s been no release announced since most studios, especially for indies, will use Toronto as a place where distributors will look at the film and bid to buy it. That’s really the way to go. So, if they wanted to submit it for TIFF, and if they hoped it would get in, it would have made no sense at all for them to have released it. It would do MUCH better if it played TIFF, got picked up there, and then got released.
So, the simple answer is…it isn’t being released because they are going to use TIFF to get the best deal possible, which is what all fans should want. That is, IF it will be playing there.
Thanks for the info Larry! Once again you rock 😉
Thinking of Rob 
With some of the TIFF schedule yet to be announced I’m really REALLY hoping it will show there. That should get the distributors on board. Want this film out NAO!!!
I am so looking forward to seeing Bel Ami!
I´d love to see him playing this role! I was hopoing to see it in the cinema.. so what, they did the whole for nothing? Than cannot be true 😦
I’m almost at the stage where I believe it was a mass hallucination we all suffered in our mindless devotion to Rob! We didn’t truly see him filming on the streets of Budapest LOL I need to see this film BADLY, with a filthy, dastardly Duroy. I certainly don’t want him tamed down for a narrow fraction of his fanbase; ie the Twihards. Our Rob is much more than that. He’s an actor, not a teen idol.
There’s a very simple answer to all your questions! 🙂 There’s a very good chance that the film will have its World Premiere at the Toronto Film Festival next month. I was told that it would be although we won’t know until next Tuesday when they announce the next round of Galas and Special Presentations. If it is, that would explain why there’s been no release announced since most studios, especially for indies, will use Toronto as a place where distributors will look at the film and bid to buy it. That’s really the way to go. So, if they wanted to submit it for TIFF, and if they hoped it would get in, it would have made no sense at all for them to have released it. It would do MUCH better if it played TIFF, got picked up there, and then got released.
So, the simple answer is…it isn’t being released because they are going to use TIFF to get the best deal possible, which is what all fans should want. That is, IF it will be playing there.
I’d rather see them take it straight to DVD than water it down for the twi-teens. This is a movie for adults — hello Hollywood, are you listening?
I don’t know about other countries but I am willing to bet that in the US this film will go straight to DVD and blu-ray. That is usually what happens to films that get shot then can’t seem to find a distributor. At this point I don’t much care if it’s in theatres or on DVD. I JUST WANT TO SEE THD THE DAMN THING!!!!
I agree with you, Debbie. The distributor need to stop worrying about the Twilight teen fan base & release this movie as it was filmed. Rob has millions of adult fans who are dying to see Bel Ami and see Rob expand his acting range. I read somewhere that the delay is because of the unavailability of the stars to do promotional appearances this fall. I hope that’s the only reason & that as soon as the BD promo is over, they’ll get on the stick & get the movie out.
I’ve heard (no way to know how reliable) that they are going to show at the TFF and the Cannes FF, and then release. We’ll have to wait and see.
I called the Greek distributors, in Athens. August 25h is not on schedule anymore.Furthermore, they don’t know the final release date, at least in Greece that is.
I’m sorry to say that, it’s the first time, I start hating Twilight, because, as much as it is a blessing in Rob’s carrier, it
turns out being a curse for the rest of his films. Everything is compared to Twilight, regarding, money, performance, Rob’s own character… Everything seems to depend upon the aspects of 10year olds… and the money their parents
pay for all the junk promotion stuff.
Wake up guys… The whole world has totally turned upside down because of stupid money… Countries are collapsing
and you keep on thinking of stupid Edward (Sorry Rob Love, not your fault). After all you’ve earned billions for your-
selves…Have you considered that if this goes on there’ll be no money at all? Are you trying to take as much as you possibly can, till then? On the backs of artists who respect themselves and people who admire their work?…
Anyway, whether on the big screen, dvd, whatever, the thinking people, will watch the movies worth watching.
It’s too obvious, but I’m really angry!!!
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I hope it debuts at TIFF but not sure. I still think that Summit has something to do with it not being released, just my thoughts. I too would rather it go straight to DVD and be shown the way it was intended to be rather than f**ked up in editing. Why can’t they just let him grow up? I’m afraid if this keeps happening with movies he is involved in that actors and directors won’t want to work with him – it’s bad enough that every movie he films gets disrupted by “fans”.
I want to see this. Boy’s got range! Let him show it.
I was afraid this would be considered an Indie film. That means it will not get a wide release. It also means that many towns and cities in the US will not even get this movie in their theatres which is a real shame. It will play in the big cities like New York City and Los Angeles, etc., but it sure won’t come to Podunk USA! Most of us will just have to wait for the DVD or blue ray. Sucks a big one.
If it is opened in TIFF, i will get the reason of this delayings. But if not and the reason is to keep Rob’s “pretty boy” image? Then hell with them. Why on the earth they cast Rob in this movie, then? They could find other actor. Besides i dont think Rob really cares about keeping good boy image. He has done Cosmopolis which will have more graphic sex scenes and i dont think it will have such stupid problems. Nobody had problems in showing Daniel( HP) running naked on the stage and they have problem with 25 years old man? Give me a break.
One more thing, Rob is an actor and he is not going to play nice guys only. He mentioned in his interviews what roles he would like to play and they are not nice ones, let me tell you. I cant bear when people has such attitude toward Rob!
You have to wonder who this “Rob has to play a good guy” theory would serve. Certainly not Rob, whose future as an actor depends on showing his range. Not his multi-generational fanbase. Not lovers of the novel, the point of which would be totally lost if Duroy is in any way redeemed. It’s clearly not aimed at teens in the first place, so why get nervous now about their support? Summit has nothing to do with it. Let’s hope the issue is timing. Since the film was completed, it would have been hard to find a time when he could promote it without running into hype for another of his movies. Nobody wants that overexposure. For an indie film – a period piece at that – the boost of a festival showing is highly desirable, but it would have to come at the right time. Fingers crossed.
I so need to see Bel Ami. I know Rob will play the role of Georges Duroy fantastic. I loved the trailer and want to see more, much more, the whole movie. So please don’t wait anymore, let the movie come into the theaters. It is not because he play a bad guy we won’t like him anymore. He is an actor fgs and supposed to play different kind of roles. So let Bel Ami released now!!!!
Oh thank god we have an answer … It makes much more sense of why it hasn’t been picked up by a U.S distrubitor….this long wait was getting out of control.
Love Larry…always keeping us updated :).
I can’t even believe they’re even thinking of not releasing Bel Ami in the States. That would be so cruel. The trailer looks amazing….we want to see it.
His character in Cosmopolis is a cold loveless man with no feelings. The man he plays in Bel Ami isn’t as bad as that