Why has no one seen this film since? Because Clémence Audiard reportedly signed a “XX Exclusive” distribution rider with the Scorsese estate and Sony Pictures. The terms are unprecedented:
Our investigation has confirmed that the November 23, 2024 screening did take place. Among the 350 attendees: director Julia Ducournau (Titane), actress Noémie Merlant, and – surprisingly – Martin Scorsese himself, who reportedly gave a standing ovation. Scorsese was overheard saying, “She didn’t remake my film. She unmade it. And that’s braver.”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SUBJECT: "FREEZE 23 11 24" – CLÉMENCE AUDIARD x TAXI DRIVER (XX EXCLUSIVE)
On November 23, 2024, audiences will witness a cinematic freeze-frame. In an XX Exclusive report, Clémence Audiard reveals her involvement in a secretive Taxi Driver adjacent project. The "freeze" refers to both a pivotal scene (a rearview mirror stare-down) and the November 23rd embargo lift. No other outlet has this footage. No other outlet has her words. freeze 23 11 24 clemence audiard taxi driver xx exclusive
Key elements:
Taxi Driver is an iconic and fraught text: influential for its cinematic language but controversial for its depiction of violence and misogyny. Any new take invites scrutiny: Why has no one seen this film since
Audiard’s track record suggests sensitivity to these questions; her likely approach would interrogate rather than exploit the source material.