Jenna Ortega to star in Leos Carax's next film 'Lily May B'
Washington DC, May 20
Jenna Ortega is set to headline acclaimed French filmmaker Leos Carax's next feature film 'Lily May B,' one of the most talked-about projects unveiled at the ongoing Cannes Film Festival, according to Variety.
Slated to go on floors in Spring 2027, 'Lily May B' marks Carax's follow-up to his 2021 musical romance Annette, starring Adam Driver and Marion Cotillard, which opened Cannes and earned Carax the Best Director award.
The project will mark the first collaboration between Carax and Ortega, who rose to global fame with Netflix's Wednesday and recently starred in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice directed by Tim Burton.
Produced by French producer Hugo Selignac under Chi-Fou-Mi Productions, a Mediawan banner, the film is described through a cryptic synopsis as a dystopian and surreal road movie.
"Once upon a time, there was a little girl, a young woman and a young boy. They each held a secret too heavy to bear. They met in an end-of-the-world world, and together rode a big motorcycle through empty cities, deserted freeways, immemorial forests. On their journey, they encountered many dangers, but kept going. In search of who they were; in search of a place to B, maybe?" the synopsis read, according to Variety.
Teasing the enigmatic film, Carax said, "Once upon a time, this is what destroyed us, and this is what kept us alive."
Known for cult classics such as Holy Motors and Les Amants du Pont-Neuf, Carax is expected to bring his signature dreamlike visual style to the project.
Speaking about the collaboration, Selignac said, "To me, Leos Carax is one of the reasons I fell in love with Cinema. Having the chance to embark on this first journey alongside him means a great deal to me."
"'Lily May B' carries forward his singular vision with the freedom, raw emotion, and visual power that are uniquely his. Seeing this universe meet Jenna Ortega's immense talent today feels simply natural," he added, according to Variety.
The remaining cast members for the film are expected to be announced in September.
— ANI
Reader Comments
The synopsis sounds beautiful actually - "three secrets too heavy to bear" and riding through empty cities... reminds me of those indie films we used to watch at MAMI festival in Mumbai. Glad to see Hollywood doing something different for once. Hope Ortega brings that Wednesday magic to it.
Leos Carax is a genius but his films can be frustratingly abstract. 'Holy Motors' was either a masterpiece or a mess depending on who you ask. I'm cautiously optimistic - Ortega choosing this over another franchise says a lot about her artistic ambitions. Let's see if she can handle such heavy material at this stage in her career.
@Priya S bhai, MAMI festival fan here too! But honestly, I'm skeptical. Carax's 'Annette' was confusing af. And why 2027? That's too far. By then Ortega might be done with Wednesday and moving on to something else. Indian cinema needs to fill this gap - we have such amazing talent but no one makes dystopian road movies like this. Imagine if Anand Gandhi directed something similar!
The producer's quote about "falling in love with cinema" really resonates. In India we too often prioritize box office over artistic vision. Films like this remind me of Mani Kaul's work - experimental and personal. Ortega is proving she's not just a teen star. Though 2027 seems like an eternity in filmmaking timelines... hope it doesn't get stuck in development hell.
Cryptic synopsis aside, I'll watch anything with Jenna Ortega after seeing her range in 'The Fallout' and 'Wednesday.' But Leos Car
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