The City of the Living (2026): Cast, Story and Release Details

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The City of the Living follows Luca, a 23-year-old balancing family, friendship, love and a hidden side of his life. After a chance encounter leads to senseless violence, his uncertain search for direction takes a devastating turn in this Italian drama-thriller.

The City of the Living centers on Luca, a 23-year-old trying to understand what comes next. He has an adoptive family who cares for him, friends spread between the suburbs and city center, and a girlfriend with whom he shares a meaningful young love.

Yet Luca is not living only one life. His attempt to find a path while adulthood still seems open—and already complicated—takes a sharp turn after an apparently chance meeting ends in blind, senseless violence.

The City of the Living movie details

Story without spoilers

Luca is at an unsettled point in his life. Raised by an adoptive family, he moves between different parts of the city and maintains relationships with friends and a girlfriend. Although he is searching for a future, he is also keeping a double life that complicates his understanding of where he belongs.

The story’s central rupture comes when a seemingly accidental encounter changes the course of Luca’s life. From there, The City of the Living frames his personal uncertainty against a devastating act of violence, leaving his search for direction at the heart of the film.

What to expect

The film combines drama and thriller elements, with its tension rooted in Luca’s divided life and the consequences of a violent turning point. The premise suggests a character-focused story about youth, identity, relationships and the fragile sense that the future remains open.

Its 1-hour, 43-minute runtime gives the story room to establish Luca’s family life, friendships and romantic relationship before focusing on the event that reshapes his trajectory. The supplied information points to serious subject matter rather than a light coming-of-age story.

Cast and creative team

Emanuele Maria Di Stefano plays Luca. The cast also includes Valerio Mastandrea, Simona Senzacqua, Roberta Mattei and Gaia Merlonghi. Edoardo Gabbriellini directs and shares writing credit with Damiano D'Innocenzo and Fabio D'Innocenzo.

• Emanuele Maria Di Stefano as Luca
• Valerio Mastandrea
• Simona Senzacqua
• Roberta Mattei
• Gaia Merlonghi

Release and production context

The City of the Living is an Italian production with Italian as its spoken language. It is listed as released with a release date of October 1, 2026, and runs for 1 hour and 43 minutes. The production companies are Eagle Pictures, Cinemaundici and Lungta Film.

Production companies: Eagle Pictures, Cinemaundici, Lungta Film

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With its focus on a young man caught between affection, uncertainty and a concealed part of his life, The City of the Living sets up a tense and serious drama-thriller. Its premise keeps the emphasis on Luca’s altered future and the personal consequences of a senseless act.

Film data:
TMDB · IMDb