Europe’s largest cosplay get together, Italy’s Lucca Comics and Games returns for its 58th edition over the Halloween weekend, with thousands of fans descending on the medival Tuscan town to celebrate all things geek. From TV shows launched by the top streamers to video, tabletop and role-playing games, comic books and horror movies, Lucca showcases the latest in fandom, paying homage to the pervasive power of pop culture at large.
And that is why “The Butterfly Effect” is the theme of this year’s edition, being held Oct. 30-Nov. 3.
Lucca Comic and Games has over almost 60 years accomplished a fantastic butterfly effect, artistic director Emanuele Vietina tells Variety. It’s become a type of event that’s being embraced by the world, from South Asia to all of Europe and North and South America, he points out. (See separate interview with Vietina). Significantly, this year’s poster is designed by legendary Japanese artist Yoshitaka Amano, whose work ranges from comic books to the “Final Fantasy” video game series. The poster combines Chaos theory with a nod to Lucca’s favorite son: “Madame Butterfly” composer Giacomo Puccini.
This immersive event has also become a global platform to launch content, most notably the first global event teasing the second season of “Squid Game” with talents in tow.
Indeed, as part of its ongoing love-in with Lucca, Netflix is back, having previously premiered seasons of “Stranger Things” and Tim Burton’s “Wednesday” at the Italian fest.
This year, “Squid Game” director Hwang Dong-hyuk and stars Lee Jung-jae and Wi Ha-jun will attend a panel to tease the eagerly awaited sophomore season ahead of its Dec. 26 drop date on Netflix and to meet fans of the dark dystopian show that features a series of deadly games pitching financially strapped contestants against each other.
One of the hottest novelties that awaits is the Squid Game Pavilion in Lucca’s central Piazza San Michele, that will include a replica of the sterile Squid Game dormitory where a few lucky fans will be able to spend the night. Piazza San Michele will also feature a life-sized replica of Young-hee, the giant doll that presides over the murderous game of Red Light, Green Light, the iconic scene from the smash hit Netflix show.
All the major streaming platforms will be on hand including Disney+, which will promote the last two episodes of its WandaVision spinoff “Agatha All Along,” starring Kathryn Hahn.
Apple TV+, at Lucca for the first time, will locally launch its thriller “Tetris,” directed by Jon S. Baird, on the 40th anniversary of the inception of the record-breaking video game that is being celebrated with the presence of both creator Alexey Pajitnov and co-founder of the Tetris company, Henk Rogers.
Closer to home, Prime Video will present “Citadel: Diana,” the Italian spy series that is the latest instalment of Prime Video’s high-concept “Citadel” franchise, executive produced by the Russo Brothers.”Diana” toplines Matilda De Angelis, who appeared in Susanne Bier’s “The Undoing.”
Anime streamer CrunchyRoll will unveil their latest productions and Japan’s Toei Animation will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of the series “One Piece” with a dedicated stand as well as special guests director Tatsuya Nagamine and animation director Kenji Yokoyama.
Of the big studios, Universal will be present with its own pavilion dedicated to the upcoming “Wicked,” the eagerly awaited musical fantasy starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande that will be landing in U.S. theaters on Nov. 22.
Oscar-winning Italian director Gabriele Salvatores will attend a panel along with visual effects supervisor Victor Perez in anticipation of the release of his film “Naples to New York,” which is based on a Federico Fellini screenplay.
As is fitting for a festival taking place over Halloween, Italy’s I Wonder Pictures – who have established themselves as A24’s frequent Italian distribution partner – will present Coralie Fargeat’s “The Substance,” sans talent in tow. Italian genre specialist label Minerva will locally premiere Osgood Perkins’ horror movie “Longlegs” as part of a Horror Nights series at Lucca curated by “The Nest” director Roberto De Feo. This section will also feature a screening of 1985 cult Italian chiller “Demons” with director Lamberto Bava on hand.
“This is a different type of festival,” says Giovanni Cova, head of Milan-based entertainment marketing company QMI who is in charge – along with Vietina – of Lucca’s Area Movie film and TV strand. “People don’t just come to see films, they want to live the experience fully: touch it, handle the props, play games, buy toys, games and comics, dress up,” he adds.
This passionate participation extends to the parades that see masses of cosplayers taking over the town. Scheduled cosplaying events will include a parade to celebrate the imminent release of “Gladiator 2.” But others may pop up spontaneously, organized by the fans themselves. Who knows?
Maybe, in the near future, one of the younger fans immersed in the Lucca experience will be inspired to go on and write a comic book, or a screenplay that will make a big global pop culture splash.
Now that would be a butterfly effect.