Coward Trailer: Watch the First Look at Lukas Dhont’s Queer Romance

We have a new reason to look forward to December, as MUBI has released the official trailer for Coward, the upcoming film from Belgian director Lukas Dhont. Following its premiere at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, where stars Emmanuel Macchia and Valentin Campagne jointly received the Best Actor award, the film is now heading toward its theatrical release on December 25.

Dhont, known for films like Close and Girl, is turning his attention to a queer love story set during the First World War. The film follows Pierre (Macchia), a young soldier trying to find his place on the front lines, whose life changes when he meets Francis (Campagne). Through a theatre production organized behind the trenches, the two men discover a space where they can escape the violence around them and explore a connection neither could have anticipated.

The newly released trailer gives us a glimpse of the emotional journey ahead, with moments that hint at the tenderness growing between Pierre and Francis while reminding us of the harsh reality surrounding them. We won’t spoil what unfolds in the footage, because this is one you’ll want to experience for yourself, but let’s just say we’re already preparing ourselves for some heartbreak. If Dhont’s previous films are any indication, we might want to have tissues nearby.

What makes us particularly eager to see Coward is its exploration of queer love in a period when expressing that love openly could be dangerous. The film draws inspiration from historical photographs of soldiers who dressed as women and staged performances behind the front lines, creating moments of artistic expression and freedom in a world shaped by strict expectations of masculinity. That history offers a fascinating starting point for a story about young men discovering themselves and each other under extraordinary circumstances.

Rather than focusing solely on the violence of war, Dhont turns his camera toward the people trying to find something worth holding on to. For Pierre and Francis, the theatre becomes an opportunity to step outside the roles imposed on them, while their growing relationship offers the possibility of a different kind of future. It’s a premise that gives the film’s romance an added emotional weight, especially when the world around these characters seems determined to take their choices away.

There’s also plenty of awards-season attention surrounding the project. After competing at Cannes and making its North American premiere at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival, Coward has been selected as Belgium’s official submission for Best International Feature Film at the 99th Academy Awards. With Macchia and Campagne already recognized for their performances, we’re looking forward to seeing how their on-screen partnership comes together in the finished film.

Ready to get a first look? Watch the official Coward trailer below and get a glimpse of the queer romance that’s heading to theaters this December.

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Coward arrives in theaters on December 25 through MUBI. Follow us on X and Instagram for all queer stuff!

Featured Image: Image Courtesy of MUBI. Photo by Thomas Nolf.