Gael Garcia Bernal’s ‘Magellan’ Goes to Janus Films

Janus Films has picked up the North American rights to Lav Diaz’s epic historical drama Magellan, which debuted out of competition in Cannes.

Mexican actor Gael Garcia Bernal’s plays the titular Portuguese explorer in the 160-minute feature from the Filipino auteur Diaz, best known for earlier films like The Woman Who Left and From What Is Before.

Bernal as a despotic and at times deluded Magellan persuades the Spanish Crown to fund his bold 16th century expedition to the fabled lands of the East, only to unleash a decade of devastation wreaked by European conquistadors in the Pacific as part of colonial conquests.

A synopsis from the film’s producers states: “The voyage is exhausting beyond expectations, with hunger and mutiny pushing the crew to their limits. Upon reaching the islands of the Malayan Archipelago, Magellan’s mind changes. He becomes obsessed with conquest and conversion, which sparks violent uprisings beyond his control. This is not the myth of Magellan, but the truth of his journey.”

Janus Films earlier picked up the 2025 Cannes titles Resurrection from director Bi Gan and Hlynur Pálmason’s The Love That Remains.

Janus Films in a statement said of its latest acquisition: “We are thrilled that Lav Diaz’s work will reach a wider North American audience than ever before through his mesmerizing Magellan, a unique collaboration between the modern master of Filipino filmmaking and one of the finest, most soulful actors of his generation. A vivid slice of vital history rendered on a grand scale, Magellan is visually ravishing and profoundly moving.”

The distribution deal was negotiated by Janus Films and Luxbox. The producer credits on Magellan are shared by Rosa Filmes, Andergraun Films, Black Cap Pictures, Ten17P, El Viaje Filmes, Volos Films, Lib Films and AKP21.