Chris Rock returns to directing as TIFF 2026 hits its stride
Chris Rock's Misty Green has had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival before a sold-out crowd, Variety reported.
The film is a dramedy, a mix of drama and comedy, that takes aim at Hollywood. It follows an actress trying to claw her way back into the spotlight.
It is Rock's first film as a director since 2014's Top Five, in which he starred opposite Rosario Dawson. Rock said producer Scott Rudin pushed him hard on that earlier film and taught him to chase the best talent without compromise.
Toronto has also hosted the premiere of I Play Rocky, directed by Peter Farrelly from a script by Peter Gamble, GoldDerby reported. Farrelly called Gamble's script "the greatest script I'd ever read." Both Misty Green and I Play Rocky were listed as world premieres, meaning first public screenings, in the festival's Gala and Special Presentations programmes.
Another Toronto title reunites director Bassam Tariq and actor Mahershala Ali. The pair were lined up in 2021 to make a new Blade film for Marvel, but Tariq left the project the next year amid production delays. Ali confirmed in July that the Marvel project was officially dead.
Their new film is Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother. Ali plays a devout Muslim hit man on the run with his three children after his wife's death. John Cho plays a gun-toting Christian cult leader who has declared a holy war on porn, while Adia plays Ali's rebellious teenage daughter, Variety reported.
Festival business was also in focus. A Variety panel on the future brought together Stephanie Ahn, Carsten Kurpanek, Rebel Wilson, producer Basil Iwanyk and director Liz Garbus. Garbus directed the 2022 Netflix docuseries Harry & Meghan, about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Asked about the couple's move back to Britain, she said: "I have no gossip or intel. I wish them well, and it's a hard road."
What makes this stand out is the range. Comebacks, origin stories and second chances are sharing the same week.
The context is the festival's 51st edition, running from 10 to 20 September with close to 300 films, Reuters reported. The 11-day event, presented by Rogers, had listed Rock among its expected talent, according to TIFF.
