Julia Roberts said she was scared and intimidated when meeting Chloe Sevigny for the upcoming crime thriller After the Hunt. The Notting Hill star, 57, discussed the moment during a Venice Film Festival interview, noting she was both excited and nervous to meet Sevigny.
Roberts recalled that her fellow cast members, including Ayo Edebiri and director Luca Guadagnino, shared the mix of nerves as they anticipated Sevigny's arrival. Allan Mandelbaum, the film's producer, told the group that Sevigny would be arriving in a few minutes. When the doorbell rang, Roberts said she was scared and Edebiri admitted she was nervous too. Roberts’s daughter Hazel was reportedly anxious about meeting Sevigny as well, adding to the backstage feel of the encounter.
After the Hunt centers on a college professor who finds herself at a personal and professional crossroads when a star pupil levels an accusation against one of her colleagues, and a dark secret from the professor's past threatens to come to light. Roberts has said the movie could spark uproar in the wake of the #MeToo movement, noting that old arguments are rejuvenated by the film in a way that invites conversation. The Hollywood Reporter quoted her as saying that the goal was for audiences to leave the theater with various emotions and viewpoints, not a single takeaway.
While promoting the film at the Venice Film Festival, an interview moment involving Roberts, Edebiri and Garfield drew widespread attention after the journalist, Federica Polidoro of ArtsLife TV, asked a question about what Hollywood has lost in the era after the #MeToo movement and Black Lives Matter, singling out Roberts and Andrew Garfield. Roberts asked Polidoro to repeat the question, saying that with sunglasses on she could not tell who was being addressed. Edebiri then interjected, saying that the movements are still very much alive and that the work being done by activists remains important and ongoing. Garfield weighed in, affirming that both movements are still active, while Roberts added that the work isn’t finished. The moment sparked online backlash, with many commenters praising Edebiri’s handling under pressure.
Polidoro later addressed the online reaction on Instagram, saying she had faced personal insults and attacks over the interview. She wrote that she has interviewed people of many backgrounds and emphasized that her family is multi-ethnic, matriarchal and feminist. She defended her journalism as a form of critical analysis and argued that casting a wide net of perspectives remains essential in reporting on Hollywood culture and society.
Sevigny, who has won a Golden Globe and earned Oscar-, Emmy- and SAG-nomination recognition throughout her career, has long been recognized for her work in both television and film and for her fashion influence in the ’90s. The film’s ensemble also includes Julia Roberts, Andrew Garfield and Luca Guadagnino, who directed the project after collaborating with Roberts in various projects. The dynamic among the cast at Venice underscores the film’s aim: to probe difficult questions about accountability, power and past secrets in a way that resonates with contemporary audiences.
As the festival circuit continues, After the Hunt is positioned to provoke discussion on its release in 2025, reflecting the ongoing tension between artistic exploration and social accountability in culture and entertainment. The project comes at a moment when audiences and critics remain vigilant about how provocative topics are presented on screen, and how press moments surrounding those topics are handled in real time.
