Lav Diaz’s ‘Magellan’ starring Gael Garcia Bernal drops teasers ahead of Cannes premiere

 — Teaser trailers for Lav Diaz’s “Magellan” starring Gael Garcia Bernal as the Portuguese explorer have been released ahead of the movie’s world premiere in the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.

The version of “Magellan” (“Magalhães” in Portuguese) screening in the Cannes Premiere section is a nearly three-hour cut, with Diaz planning a full nine-hour version that will also involve Magellan’s wife Beatriz, portrayed in the movie by Ângela Ramos.

Film company Luxbox dropped two different teasers of the movie, giving a glimpse of Magellan turning his back on the Portuguese crown and set sail under Spanish colors.

“A farewell to his wife. A promise to find glory. The sea opens up before them,” one of the teaser’s captions on Instagram goes.

Both teasers show a glimpse of Diaz’s recreation of Magellan’s ship the Victoria, and the explorer meeting natives who mistake the crew as individuals sent from the gods.

Ronnie Lazaro and Hazel Orencio, frequent collaborators of Diaz, have supporting roles in the film that was shot in the Philippines, Portugal, and Spain.

“Magellan” will first have market screenings for buyers interested in distributing the movie before its official premiere on May 18, with two more screenings the following day and one on May 22.

Magellan is best known for setting foot in the Philippines in 1521 and falling at the hands of Lapu-Lapu’s fighters in Cebu, and his remaining crew members became the first people to circumnavigate the globe.

Diaz previously premiered “Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan” at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival’s Un Certain Regard category, while his “Ang Hupa” premiered in the 2019 edition’s Directors’ Fortnight.

The 2025 Cannes Film Festival — where French actress Juliette Binoche will serve as Main Jury President — runs from May 13 to 24.