Mikey Madison will follow up her Oscar-winning turn in “Anora” by co-starring with Kirsten Dunst in “Reptilia.” The thriller tells the story of a dental hygienist who is seduced by a mysterious mermaid into the dark and wet underworld of Florida’s exotic animal trade.
Alejandro Landes Echavarría, the filmmaker behind the hallucinatory hostage drama “Monos,” will direct the feature. “Reptilia” is based on a script by Landes Echavarría and Duke Merriman. Imperative Entertainment, Pastel and AF Films are set to produce, alongside Landes Echavarría under his A Stela Cine banner. Black Bear is providing financing.
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UTA Independent Film Group and 30West will co-handle U.S. distribution rights. The film will be introduced to international buyers at the Cannes market by Charades. Principal photography will commence this fall.
Landes Echavarría’s previous film, “Monos,” premiered at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award. It went on to win the award for Best Film at the 2019 BFI London Film Festival and was selected as the official Colombian entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 92nd Academy Awards. Landes Echavarría’s narrative debut “Porfirio” premiered at Cannes Directors’ Fortnight in 2011, while his first feature – the documentary “Cocalero” – debuted at Sundance in 2007.
Before her star-making role in “Anora,” Madison appeared in “Scream 5″ and had a supporting turn in Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.” On TV, Madison was part of the ensemble of FX’s “Better Things.”
Dunst won the best actress prize at Cannes for “Melancholia” and was nominated for an Oscar for “The Power of the Dog.” Her other roles include “The Virgin Suicides,” “Marie Antoinette,” and “Spider-Man.” Dunst will next appear in Derek Cianfrance’s “Roofman” opposite Channing Tatum and in Ruben Östlund’s “The Entertainment System Is Down.”
Landes Echavarría is represented by UTA and Lichter, Grossman, Nichols, Feldman, Rogal, Shikora & Clark. Dunst is represented by UTA, Entertainment 360, and Hansen Jacobson. Madison is represented by UTA and Authentic Talent & Literary Management.
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