EXCLUSIVE: BAFTA and Golden Globe nominee Gillian Anderson (The Crown) and BAFTA and Golden Globe nominee Rebecca Hall (The Beauty) have been set to star in psychological thriller The Portrait from writer-director Sara Colangelo (The Kindergarten Teacher).
The film will be produced by Talia Kleinhendler and Osnat Handelsman Keren of Pie Films (The Lost Daughter, The Kindergarten Teacher), alongside Francesca Cualbu (Maria) of Italian production company The Apartment.
Based on the novel by Ilaria Bernardini (upcoming Ibelin), the project is described as “a seductive game of deception in which Valeria (Anderson), an internationally acclaimed writer, has dedicated her life to her work and to her secret lover of many years, Martín, a wealthy businessman. When his sudden illness makes him inaccessible to her, her world implodes. Desperate to see him and be by his side during his final days, Valeria commissions his artist wife, Isla (Hall), to paint her portrait— covertly infiltrating the intimate inner workings of Martin’s home and family. What ensues is a pas de deux in which lover and wife are forced to collide within the family’s grand London townhouse.”
WME independent represents domestic rights at next week’s AFM, while Rocket Science will handle international sales. Slated to begin production in Q1 of 2027, the film will shoot in the UK.
Colangelo said: “I am beyond excited to be partnering with Gillian and Rebecca. Directorially, the film continues a particular interest I have in themes of moral ambiguity and female transgression– in women’s power and subversiveness.”
Kleinhendler and Handelsman Keren commented: “We are delighted to be reteaming with the uniquely talented Sara Colangelo. The moment we read Ilaria’s brilliant book we knew Sara was the perfect filmmaker to bring this suspenseful, honest and surprising story to the screen. Along with the electrifying pairing of Gillian Anderson and Rebecca Hall that we know will guarantee powerhouse performances to bring these incredible characters to life in a stylish Hitchcockian thriller.”
Colangelo’s second feature, The Kindergarten Teacher, an adaptation of the German original, starred Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gael García Bernal and Parker Sevak, and premiered in U.S. Dramatic Competition at Sundance 2018, where she won the Directing Award. The film was subsequently acquired by Netflix. She followed this with Worth, starring Michael Keaton, Stanley Tucci and Amy Ryan, which premiered at Sundance in 2020 and was also released by Netflix.
Rocket Science’s AFM slate also includes Sacha Gervasi’s Darlington starring Renée Zellweger, Dominic Sessa and Peter Dinklage, and Paul W.S. Anderson’s The House of the Dead starring Isabella Merced.
Anderson is represented by Independent Talent Group and United Talent Agency. Hall is represented by WME, Julian Belfrage Associates and attorneys Hansen Jacobson. Colangelo is represented by William Morris Endeavor (WME) Entertainment and MGMT Entertainment. Pie Films are represented by WME and Hannah Leader.
