With Cannes Film Festival kicking off in the next few days, there's already been early buzz for some films that distributors will be eagerly bidding on.

For the most part, many of the films aren't even finished - many, in fact, are still in post-production. However, we've done our best to cull together some films you'll no doubt be hearing plenty about in the months to come.

 

MACBETH

This will be, to our knowledge, the first adaptation of the Scottish play to hit cinema screens in quite a few years. Roman Polanski's 1971 version is considered by many to be the finest version - that is, perhaps, until now. Justin Kurzel directs Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard as Mr. and Mrs. Macbeth, with a supporting cast of Jack Reynor, Sean Harris, Paddy Considine and David Thewlis. Justin Kurzel's already been tapped to direct Michael Fassbender again in the long-awaited adaptation of Assassin's Creed. As for Macbeth, expect lots of blood and lots of drama.

 

A TALE OF LOVE & DARKNESS

Natalie Portman's first directorial debut sees her adapting Amos Oz's autobiographical novel about a young man's life in early Israel and the dichotomy between Jews in Europe during the end of World War II and times thereafter. Portman will play the author's mother. The writer Oz is an advocate of a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine, so expect it to be a hot-button film that'll undoubtedly garner a huge amount of press - good or bad.

 

SEA OF TREES

Matthew McConaughey continues his rise to become The Greatest Living Actor by teaming up with Gus Van Sant, Ken Watanabe and Naomi Watts as a suicidal American who travels to Japan to commit suicide in the infamous Aokigahara forest. There's a great Vice documentary about the area, if you're any way interested in the subject. Expect this to be included in the Oscars' shortlist.

 

A HOLOGRAM FOR THE KING

Tom Tykwer and Tom Hanks reteam after the ambitious-if-spotty Cloud Atlas failed to go over with audiences. Keeping with a similar vibe, A Hologram For The King is adapted from a bestselling novel about a washed-up, desperate American salesman who attempts to secure an IT contract for a mysterious building that's being constructed in the desert of Saudi Arabia. There's been no early word on this, but it's Tom Hanks so we're automatically interested.

 

UNTITLED BEATLES DOCUMENTARY

Ron Howard turns his hand to documentary filmmaking with a behind-the-scenes look at the Beatles' early career from dingy clubs in Hamburg all the way up to their final performance at Candlestick Park. This will be one of the very few authorise documentaries about the Beatles, as Apple Corps. Inc are one of the producing partners.

 

THE LOBSTER

Our own Colin Jaysus Faddle stars in this quirky sci-fi comedy set in the near-future where finding a relationship is literally a matter of life or death. Farrell's character must find a partner in 45 days or he'll be turned into an animal and released back in the woods. Yeah, exactly. Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, who did the utterly brilliant / bonkers Dogtooth, The Lobster is another course correction for Farrell as he attempts a mid-career turnaround. Here's hoping.