Oscar-winning director Michel Hazanavicius has long defied easy categorization, moving effortlessly from the sharp parodies of Derrick contre Superman and La Classe Américaine to the global phenomenon of The Artist. While his early career was marked by comedic brilliance, Hazanavicius has spent the last decade exploring a diverse range of genres, tackling war drama with The Search, biopic with Le Redoutable, adventure in Le Prince oublié, horror-comedy in Coupez !, and animation with La plus précieuse des marchandises.

While not every venture has been a runaway success, Hazanavicius's willingness to experiment is undeniable, making his next project, La troisième main (The Third Hand), a particularly anticipated title. Co-written with Thomas Cailley, acclaimed director of Le Règne Animal, and adapted from Arthur Dreyfus's novel, the film boasts a compelling cast including François Civil, Bérénice Bejo, Rebecca Marder, and Michel Fau. Now, fans are getting their first glimpse of this fantastical endeavor.

StudioCanal has confirmed that filming for La troisième main is complete, with a theatrical release slated for 2027. While a precise date remains under wraps, speculation is rife that the film could make its debut at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, a familiar stomping ground for Hazanavicius. But what exactly is this enigmatic film about? An official synopsis provides a tantalizing hint:

"1916, Verdun. Paul Marchand, a young soldier, is wounded. He wakes up in a mad scientist's laboratory who has grafted, in the middle of his abdomen, a German hand."

This bizarre premise, blending elements of the macabre with a darkly humorous edge, promises a truly unconventional cinematic journey. Adding to its unique nature, the film is described as "silent and in color," a creative choice that immediately evokes the atmospheric dread of early 20th-century horror classics like F.W. Murnau's Nosferatu, le vampire.

Hazanavicius himself offered further insight into the film's thematic depth during the 30th edition of La Journée des Éditeurs de Films in September 2025, as reported by Allociné:

"This hand will be extremely violent. Sometimes to save his life, but it will ostracize him from society. It's a kind of allegory about the violence with which those who have been to war must live, this violence that has been placed within them, deep in their being. And how one carries one's own enemy within. It's written like a tragedy disguised as a fantasy film. A bit in the manner of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde."

This comparison to Robert Louis Stevenson's iconic tale of duality, coupled with the film's unique aesthetic and compelling premise, firmly places La troisième main on our must-watch list for 2027. We eagerly await more details on what promises to be a truly singular and thought-provoking cinematic experience.