Jude Law Says New Film About White Supremacist Group ‘Needed to Be Made Now’: ‘The Relevance Speaks for Itself’

The actor spoke at a press conference for the movie at the 2024 Venice Film Festival on Aug. 31

 

Jude Law knows the importance of his latest film.

On Saturday, Aug. 31, the actor, 51, attended the 2024 Venice Film Festival for the world premiere of his new film The Order, which is competing for the prestigious Golden Lion.

During a press conference, Law spoke about why the project — which centers around a White supremacist group — is so timely. “Sadly, the relevance speaks for itself,” he said, per The Hollywood Reporter. “It felt like a piece of work that needed to be made now. It’s always interesting finding a piece from the past that has some relevant relationship to the present day.”

Fellow cast member Nicholas Hoult added, per the outlet, “Hopefully the film, perhaps, if people see it, can shed more light on how these sorts of events occur and on the people that are instigating them, [and can] help prevent it happening anymore in the future.”

Tye Sheridan, Jurnee Smollett, Marc Maron and director Justin Kurzel were also in attendance at the annual film event.

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The Order is based on the 1989 non-fiction book The Silent Brotherhood by Kevin Flynn and Gary Gerhardt. It tells the story of “a series of increasingly violent bank robberies, counterfeiting operations, and armored car heists frightens communities throughout the Pacific Northwest” in 1983, per a synopsis shared by the film festival.

“As baffled law enforcement agents scrambled for answers, a lone FBI agent, stationed in the sleepy, picturesque town of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, comes to believe the crimes are not the work of traditional, financially motivated criminals, but of a group of dangerous domestic terrorists, inspired by a radical, charismatic leader, plotting a devastating war against the federal government of the United States,” the description continues.

Per Deadline, Vertical acquired U.S. rights from AGC Studios to the movie in May and is planning a Dec. 6 release date.

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“It’s such a tricky market and tricky landscape out there so any kind of early recognition is so gratefully received,” Law, who co-founded Riff Raff Entertainment with his creative partner Ben Jackson in 2017, told the outlet of attending film festivals like Venice.

“These festivals are championed by film lovers, so it just feels like such a win to be there and share that company with great filmmakers,” he added.

“It was clear that Justin was the right person for The Order because the subject matter was complicated,” Law added to Deadline of working with director Kurzel.

“It was political and delicate and controversial in certain areas. But he has this barometer to go to those dark places and approach dark subject matter with a very level head and a non-judgemental perspective. He also combines cinematic realism with cinematic scale,” the actor continued.

 

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Law’s Venice appearance comes after he spoke to PEOPLE in June about how he’s handled fame through the years, admitting everything changed when he starred in 1999’s Talented Mr. Ripley.

“I look back now — my eldest son is 27, and I wasn’t much older,” he said of his early days of fame. “And honestly, I look back and I’m really proud. I think I handled it pretty well.”

The Order will next have its North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sunday, Sept. 8.

The Venice Film Festival runs from Aug. 28 to Sept. 7.