One of the many reasons for Cate Blanchett's esteemed status in Hollywood is her consistent willingness to leverage her star power to champion independent and distinctive films that might otherwise struggle to find an audience. Beyond her appearances in major franchises like The Lord of the Rings and the MCU, and her acclaimed roles in prestigious auteur films (earning her Oscars for work with Scorsese and Allen), Blanchett has also graced projects such as Rumours (Guy Maddin, Evan, and Galen Johnson), Tár (Todd Field), and Manifesto (Julian Rosefeldt).

Her latest daring venture is Alpha Gang, directed by David and Nathan Zellner (known for their quirky film Primitifs). The movie centers on human-looking aliens, led by Alpha One (Cate Blanchett). Driven by a thirst for power, they attempt to conquer Earth. However, their plan takes an unexpected turn when they contract a peculiar illness: the ability to experience human emotions, as detailed in the official synopsis. This promising premise for Alpha Gang has been further teased with a brand new image.

Cate as an Alien with a pirate's head? At first glance, it looks promising

Punk UFO

This new look at Alpha Gang comes courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter. The Alpha One seen in this image undoubtedly belongs to the same alien group glimpsed in the first photo released by the Toronto International Film Festival last July. That initial picture featured cast members Bae Doona, Lily-Rose Depp, Léa Seydoux, Kelvin Harrison, Riley Keough, and Dave Bautista, all sporting the same stylish leather jackets as the half-pirate, half-biker Cate Blanchett.

Clearer and of better quality than the previous shot, the image also suggests that the film's cinematography will feature a noticeable grain, likely a result of being shot on film. While this technique is often employed in art-house cinema, this aesthetic choice could also be intended to evoke a setting in a past century.

The alien boss, no less

Indeed, between this very Y.M.C.A.-esque attire and the jukebox visible in an earlier photo, Alpha Gang appears to be set somewhere between the 1950s and 1970s. However, since the official pitch doesn't specify a time period, this could be a deliberate misdirection or simply an aesthetic choice that places the narrative in an imprecise reality, neither contemporary nor strictly historical.

Following the release of Primitifs exclusively on Paramount+, anticipation is high for Alpha Gang to reach theaters. As of now, no release date has been announced for France or elsewhere.