Gael García Bernal is ‘Magellan’: Everything to know about the Philippine’s Oscar contender as trailer drops
Denton Davidson
Janus Films has unveiled the new trailer for Magellan, the latest globe-spanning historical epic from acclaimed Filipino filmmaker Lav Diaz (Norte, the End of History) and starring Golden Globe winner Gael García Bernal as Ferdinand Magellan. The film is the Philippines’ official submission for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards and will hit U.S. theaters on Jan. 9.
Watch the trailer below and read on for everything to know about Magellan.
What's it about?
Set in the 16th century, Magellan — a young and ambitious Portuguese navigator — rebels against the power of the king, who doesn’t support his dream of discovering the world. He persuades the Spanish Crown to fund his bold expedition to the fabled lands of the East. 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.
Who's in the cast?
Joining Gael García Bernal in the epic saga are Ângela Azevedo, Amado Arjay Babon, Ronnie Lazaro, Hazel Orencio, Tomás Alves, Bong Cabrera, Baptiste Pintaux, and Brontis Jodorowsky.
Who's behind the camera?
Magellan is written and directed by Lav Diaz, who also serves as production designer, co-cinematographer, and co-editor alongside Artur Tort. The costume designers are Célia Fernandes and Kim Perez, with art direction by Isabel Garcia and Allen Alzola, sound design by Emmanuel Bonnat and Cecil Buban, and visual effects supervised by Arnaud Chelet.
When can I see it?
Magellan had its world premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on May 18. The film is being released in the U.S. by Janus Films on Jan. 9, 2026.
Awards potential
Magellan is the Philippine's official Oscar entry for Best International Feature. It is currently ranked outside the top 10 in Gold Derby's Oscar odds, and is considered a long shot in other categories.
