FilmNation Boards Tomas Alfredson’s Psychodrama Séance on a Wet Afternoon Starring Rachel Weisz, Written by Jack Thorne

FilmNation Entertainment has joined Séance on a Wet Afternoon, Tomas Alfredson’s psychological thriller starring Academy Award winner Rachel Weisz (The Favourite), ahead of its presentation at the Cannes Film Market. Domestic rights are being represented by UTA Independent Film Group and CAA Media Finance.

Based on the bestselling 1961 novel by Mark McShane, the film is written by Jack Thorne (Adolescence). Weisz will portray Myra, a self-styled psychic who persuades her husband Billy to kidnap the young son of a wealthy family. Her goal is to “find” the missing child using her psychic abilities, thereby proving her legitimacy to the police and the public. But as Myra’s true motivations begin to emerge, Billy realizes they are on a path that could destroy them both.

The novel was previously adapted into a 1964 film starring Kim Stanley and Richard Attenborough. Stanley received an Academy Award nomination for best actress for her role.

Alfredson, known for directing the BAFTA-winning Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and the cult hit 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.”

The film will be produced by Robyn Slovo; Polly Stokes and Rachel Weisz for Astral Projection; and Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe for Element Pictures, a Fremantle company known for their work on Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things.

Séance on a Wet Afternoon is one of the first projects to emerge from a first-look and development deal between Astral Projection—founded by Weisz and Stokes (American Honey, Wild Rose)—and Fremantle.

Read the whole article on Variety.