Cannes: Forest Whitaker, Orlando Bloom Thriller ‘Zulu’ to Close Festival

CANNES – Jerome Salle’s Zulu, starring Orlando Bloom and Forest Whitaker, will close the 66^th annual Cannes Film Festival on May 26, it was announced Friday. The film, called part film noir and part social study, depicts Bloom and Whitaker as two cops investigating a crime during the days of apartheid. The film, adapted for the screen by Julien Rappeneau, was shot entirely on location in South Africa.

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Whitaker won Best Male Actor at Cannes for his role in Clint Eastwood’s Bird in 1988.

It’s been previously announced that Australian Baz Luhrmann’s dazzling retelling of The Great Gatsby, with Leo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire and Carey Mulligan, will open the festivities with a star-studded red carpet sure to follow. Steven Spielberg will preside over the jury, with Palme d’Or winner Jane Campion overseeing the short-film jury.

French actress Audrey Tautou will host both the opening and closing nights as mistress of ceremonies. 

The full list of films in competition will be announced on April 18.