In a surprising turn of events, acclaimed Quebec filmmaker Xavier Dolan has signalled a return to the director's chair, teasing a new project set for production in late 2026. This comes just three years after the Montreal-born auteur declared he was finished with filmmaking.
An Instagram Hint Sparks Speculation
The first clue emerged on New Year's Day 2026, when Dolan, 36, posted a series of images and videos to his Instagram account with the caption, "Welcoming 2026 with arms wide open." Among the personal snapshots was a crucial piece of evidence: a photograph of a script cover page. The title was concealed, but the page was clearly dated December 30, 2025, credited to "Écrit par Xavier Dolan" and marked for "Tournage Automne 2026" (Shooting Fall 2026).
The post quickly ignited excitement among his followers, amassing nearly 85,000 likes and 1,700 comments by the following Tuesday. Dolan's agent, when contacted, declined to comment on the specifics of the shoot.
From Retirement Announcement to New Beginnings
This development marks a stark reversal from Dolan's position in 2023. Following a controversial interview, he publicly stated he was done with making movies, citing the emotional toll and ups and downs of the industry. He expressed a desire to focus on his health, friends, family, and other passions.
"I have said I wanted to stop making films, and I feel at peace with that decision," Dolan wrote at the time. He did leave a door slightly ajar for television, noting involvement in TV projects. Dolan's filmography includes eight celebrated features directed between 2009 and 2019, most of which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. His accolades there include the Jury Prize in 2014 for 'Mommy' and the Grand Prix in 2016 for 'Juste la fin du monde'. He also directed the 2022 limited series The Night Logan Woke Up and music videos for Adele and, more recently, a 2025 video for Elton John and Brandi Carlile.
What Is Dolan's Mysterious New Project?
The nature of the new work remains a subject of intrigue. The teaser has led to several theories:
- A Television Series: Given his 2023 comments and a September 2025 Variety report, one strong possibility is the series Rage, which explores skinhead violence in 1980s Paris.
- A Feature Film: In an October 2024 master class in Lyon, Dolan revealed he had written a script for a horror comedy set in 1895 Paris, mashing genres within the literary world. He had also previously mentioned developing a genre film set in 1800s France.
- An Entirely New Venture: As is often the case with the director known as Quebec cinema's enfant terrible, the only safe assumption is to expect the unexpected.
Whether for the small screen or the silver screen, Xavier Dolan's creative silence appears to be over. His Instagram hint has successfully announced that one of Canada's most internationally recognized directors is actively scripting his next act, with cameras poised to roll in the autumn of 2026.
