The rock icon Mick Jagger has landed on the volcanic island of Stromboli to take part in director Alice Rohrwacher’s English-language feature Three Incestuous Sisters, according to local and industry reports. The arrival, reportedly by helicopter, has drawn attention not only because of Jagger’s music career but also because the island location carries cinematic history: the villa where he is staying is linked to Roberto Rossellini’s infamous affair with Ingrid Bergman during the production of a film by the same title in 1949. The shoot is being kept deliberately discreet, with many plot details still under wraps.
Rohrwacher’s project adapts Audrey Niffenegger’s illustrated, gothic novel about three isolated siblings whose lives change with the arrival of an outsider; the director’s first foray into an English-language feature has assembled a notable ensemble including Dakota Johnson, Josh O’Connor, Saoirse Ronan, Jessie Buckley and Isabella Rossellini. Italian press outlets have reported—though the reports remain unconfirmed—that Jagger will portray a lighthouse keeper and the father of the character played by O’Connor. Production sources emphasize that Jagger’s scenes are limited and that his stay on the island will be brief.
On-set setting and production logistics
The film is shooting on location in Stromboli and in Rome, with principal photography having begun in April and a plan for ten weeks of shooting across both sites. The production is financed by Indian Paintbrush, with Dakota Johnson and Ro Donnelly producing for Johnson’s TeaTime Pictures, and Steven Rales representing Indian Paintbrush; Rohrwacher is also credited as a producer. The Italian company Fandango serves as the line producer, coordinating the local logistics that have transformed the island into a tightly controlled set. Local press noted that weather delayed Jagger’s initial arrival by a day, underscoring the unpredictable nature of location shoots on active volcanic islands.
Cast dynamics and creative team
Beyond Jagger’s cameo, the cast reads like an international art-house roster. Rohrwacher, a two-time Cannes prizewinner for The Wonders and Happy as Lazzaro, reteamed with collaborators from previous work: La Chimera, her 2026 feature starring Josh O’Connor and Isabella Rossellini, made a strong festival run and was widely distributed in the U.S. The director was honored earlier this year with the European Film Academy’s Achievement in World Cinema award, a recognition that has heightened interest in her first English-language project and the way she adapts Audrey Niffenegger’s dark, illustrated tale.
Mick Jagger’s screen history and role expectations
Jagger’s involvement bridges his storied music career and periodic acting ventures. His most notable film roles include a charismatic rock star in Performance, genre outings such as Freejack, character work in The Man From Elysian Fields, a drag performance in Bent, and a more recent turn as a reclusive collector in The Burnt Orange Heresy. Industry notes characterize his part in Rohrwacher’s film as compact but pivotal, with the unconfirmed casting reports suggesting he plays a figure who catalyzes change for the younger characters. Local sources have said his scenes will be shot over a few days before he departs the island.
Island hospitality and local reaction
Residents and onlookers described Jagger’s presence as low-key; islanders reportedly intended to treat him as any guest, reflecting Stromboli’s reputation for straightforward hospitality. Reports say he stayed in a private villa in the Piscità area and kept a discreet profile while dining out. The production’s tight security and closed set protocols limited public access, but the short-lived visit has still provided a moment of excitement on the island and reminded locals of Stromboli’s long cinematic associations.
Music ties and promotional timing
Jagger’s film appearance comes as The Rolling Stones prepare to release a new album titled Foreign Tongues, due on July 10 from Capitol Records. The record is being introduced by the lead single In the Stars, which was released digitally on May 5 alongside the album opener Rough and Twisted. With no major tour scheduled immediately to support the new release, the Stones’ studio work has allowed Jagger pockets of availability to pursue brief screen projects such as Rohrwacher’s film.
As filming continues through Rome and the Aeolian islands, the production aims to preserve the novel’s eerie mood while balancing the practicalities of location shooting and a star-studded cast. Observers will be watching how Rohrwacher translates an illustrated gothic novel into a cinematic language steeped in atmosphere and how a musician of Jagger’s profile integrates into her precise, festival-honed vision.
