Real-life sisters Rooney Mara and Kate Mara star together on screen for the first time in director Werner Herzog‘s new film “Bucking Fastard.” The movie, which premiered at the 83rd Venice Film Festival on September 3, 2026, features the sisters playing twins who speak in perfect unison. The challenge of speaking together as one character came naturally to the siblings, who drew on their lifelong bond to pull off the unusual performance.
The Unusual Acting Challenge
The film follows Jean and Joan Holbrooke, sisters who are so close that they speak in unison, love the same man, and share the same dreams. Orlando Bloom plays the man both sisters fall for, while Domhnall Gleeson also stars in the film.
Speaking at a press conference before the premiere, Rooney Mara admitted the idea was initially intimidating:
“At first, it was very daunting, the idea that we were going to be playing this kind of same person. But I think we found pretty quickly that having a lifetime together and all this history and a childhood of playing together, there was just an unspoken world between us that we didn’t have to work very hard to create at all.”
A Natural Rhythm Between Sisters
Kate Mara, 43, compared the experience of speaking in unison to music:
“Once we figured out the rhythm of our speaking unison, it felt almost like a song, like we had this unspoken sort of rhythm together and it was very musical. And it just sort of happened quite naturally.”
The older sister, known for “House of Cards” and “24,” said the synchronisation came with surprising ease.
Rooney Mara, 41, added that making the film was an incredibly fun experience:
“I’ve never laughed so much, we had so much fun. It was a very once-in-a-lifetime, unique experience.”
Herzog’s Confidence in the Maras
Director Werner Herzog, 83, had planned for two weeks of rehearsal. But after just five days, he stopped the preparations. He told the sisters he was confident in their work and would see them in Ireland in front of his camera.
“I had complete confidence with them,” Herzog said.
The veteran German filmmaker called the sisters’ performance “unprecedented”:
“It’s unprecedented what they are doing. We have not seen anything like this in film history, and I doubt that we will see anything like this in the foreseeable future again.”
The Real Story Behind the Film
“Bucking Fastard” is loosely inspired by real British identical twins Freda and Greta Chaplin. The twins became tabloid sensations in the 1980s in the UK. They dressed the same, spoke in unison, and became involved in a stalking case.
Herzog first met twins who spoke in unison about 45 years ago. The idea for a film stayed with him for decades. He could not find a way to make it work until someone suggested using the Mara sisters instead of real twins. After that, Herzog wrote the script in just five days.
The film’s unusual title comes from a spoonerism the real twins made while in court.
Venice Film Festival Premiere
“Bucking Fastard” premiered in competition at the Venice Film Festival on September 3, 2026. The movie received a standing ovation that lasted 6.5 minutes.
After the credits rolled, Herzog wiped his eyes with a tissue as the Mara sisters shared a warm embrace.
The film is competing for the festival’s top prize, the Golden Lion. The winner will be announced on September 12.
First Time On Screen Together
“Bucking Fastard” marks the first time Rooney and Kate Mara have appeared together in a movie.
Rooney Mara is known for her roles in “The Social Network,” “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo,” “Her,” and “Carol”. Kate Mara is recognised for her work in “House of Cards,” “24,” and “American Horror Story: Murder House”.
Kate Mara shared how special the project was for both of them:
“He wrote me and my sister a beautiful letter asking us to be in this about a year ago. We were both so thrilled because we have been wanting to work together for a while, but nothing made sense. This one was immediately a no-brainer.”
Orlando Bloom on Working with the Maras
Orlando Bloom, who plays the love interest of both sisters, said working alongside the Maras was an extraordinary experience:
“They were almost like they were breathing together, dreaming together, loving together, thinking together. The movie feels like a poem, and they were the central focus that we were kind of marvelling at.”
Bloom also praised Herzog’s direction:
“He creates a sacred space for magic to happen. It’s the pinnacle of any actor’s career to be at the Venice Film Festival talking about a movie with Werner Herzog.”
A Tribute to David Lynch
During the press conference, Herzog dedicated the film to the late filmmaker David Lynch. While editing the movie, Herzog wished Lynch could be the first to see it.
“We had a deep, deep understanding of each other’s work, although we were quite different. I wish we could turn the wheel of time back and invite him tonight. But it doesn’t happen like this.”
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Release Information
“Bucking Fastard” does not yet have a confirmed release date in the United States. The film is currently making its debut at the Venice Film Festival. Global audiences will need to wait for further announcements from distributors regarding release plans in other regions including the UK, Canada, Australia, and India.
The film was shot in Ireland and features a cast that includes Orlando Bloom, Domhnall Gleeson, along with the Mara sisters.
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