Sisters Rooney and Kate Mara debuted Werner Herzog's Bucking Fastard at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 14, 2026. The film explores a highly unusual bond betwen two women who move and speak in perfect unison.
The identical wardrobes and shared meals used by Kate and Rooney Mara
To prepare for their roles in Werner Herzog's Bucking Fastard, sisters Rooney and Kate Mara adopted highly specific daily rhythms. According to a report from The Canadian Press, the actresses wore the same clothing on set and consumed the same meals at the same time to mirror their characters' synchronized lives.
Kate Mara noted that the process was an "experiment" that allowed the siblings to lean into their natural similarities . by eating the same foods and following a shared routine, the actresses aimed to capture the essence of two women whose existence is inextricably linked. Kate Mara emphasized that finding these commonalities was vital to the story, turning their shared tastes into a functional part of the acting process.
A plot centered on sisters competing for the same man
The narrative of Bucking Fastard follows two women who share a singular identity, dressing identically and competing for the affection of the same man. This surreal premise serves as the centerpiece for director Werner Herzog's latest cinematic endeavor, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026.
The premiere saw the Mara siblings walking the red carpet together in Toronto, appearing alongside stars Orlando Bloom and Domhnall Gleeson. The film's unique concept of synchronized existence aims to push the boundaries of the sibling relationship on screen, a theme that was highlighted during the festival's high-profile Monday slate.
The mid-festival arrival of Martin McDonagh and Andrew Scott
The premiere of Bucking Fastard occurred as the Toronto International Film Festival reached its halfway point. As reported by Kaitlyn McGrath, the festival environment has seen shifts, including the reopening of King Street to traffic and the departure of several Festival Street vendors. Despite these changes, the star-studded schedule remains robust through the following weekend.
Other notable figures at the Toronto International Film Festival include director Martin McDonagh, who is presenting Wild Horse Nine starring John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell. Additionally, actor Andrew Scott is in Toronto promoting his film Elsinore, a biographical piece about Ian Charleson. The festival's diverse lineup also includes the animated In Waves starring Will Sharpe and Stephanie Hsu, and Helen Mirren's thriller A Talent for Murder. Mirren was recently honored at the TIFF Tribute Awards, an event tied to the festival's "Share Her Journey" initiative.
How will audiences react to the film's unison-speaking gimmick?
While the technical preparation of the Mara sisters has been documented, several aspects of the film's execution remain unverified. It is currently unknown how the "unison speaking" will be presented—whether through seamless synchronized performance or through post-production audio layering. Furthermore, the source does not provide initial critical reactions from the audience at the Monday premiere, leaving the film's ultimate impact on the festival's narrative an open question. It also remains to be seen how the film's surrealist tone will be received by mainstream audiences compared to Herzog's previous works.
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