Tomas Alfredson’s anticipated psychodrama “Séance on a Wet Afternoon,” starring Oscar winner Rachel Weisz (“The Favourite”), has been boarded by FilmNation ahead of the Cannes Film Market. Domestic rights are being repped by UTA Independent Film Group and CAA Media Finance.
Penned by “Adolescence” writer Jack Thorne, “Séance on a Wet Afternoon” is based on Mark McShane’s bestselling 1961 suspense novel of the same name. Weisz will star as Myra, a self-proclaimed medium who convinces her husband Billy to kidnap the son of a wealthy family so she can lead the police to the “missing” child and legitimize her psychic abilities. When Myra’s true intentions come to light, however, Billy realizes her plan threatens to consume them both.
The novel was previously adapted into a critically acclaimed 1964 film starring Richard Attenborough and Kim Stanley, who earned a best actress Oscar nomination for her performance.
Alfredson, who is best known for directing the BAFTA-winning “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” and the cult Swedish genre film “Let the Right One In,” said in a statement: “I’m drawn to complex characters, and Jack Thorne’s edge-of-your-seat script blends psychologically deep characters with unnerving twists and turns. With Rachel Weisz at the core of this project, both producing and starring as Myra, the film is sure to be powerful and unnerving. It is a haunting exploration of desperation and the fragile line between reality and delusion.”
“Séance on a Wet Afternoon” will be produced by Robyn Slovo; Astral Projection’s Polly Stokes and Rachel Weisz; and Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe for Element Pictures (a Fremantle company), whose credits include Yorgos Lanthimos’ “Poor Things.”
The project is a part of the first-look and development deal that Astral Projection, the banner set up by Weisz and Stokes (“American Honey,” “Wild Rose”), signed with Fremantle last year.
Alfredson is repped by UTA. Weisz is repped by Independent, CAA, Linden Entertainment, ID PR and Hirsch Wallerstein Hayum Matlof and Fishman. Thorne is repped by UTA and Sloane, Offer, Weber and Dern.
Weisz is also currently preparing to exec produce and play the lead role in Netflix’s limited series “Vladimir,” based on the novel by Julia May Jonas, about a woman who becomes obsessed with her captivating new colleague.
FilmNation’s Cannes market slate also includes Olivia Wilde‘s next movie “The Invite,” in which she will star alongside Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton.
