Shailene Woodley is set to star “Misanthrope,” a thriller about a serial killer from the director of the Oscar-nominated “Wild Tales,” FilmNation Entertainment announced on Wednesday.
FilmNation is presenting the film to buyers at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, and the film will shoot in Atlanta later this year.
In “Misanthrope,” Woodley will play a troubled, but talented low-ranking female cop who is recruited by the FBI to help profile and track down a serial mass murderer.
The screenplay was written by Damián Szifron with Jonathan Wakeham based on an original story by Szifron. FilmNation Entertainment’s Aaron Ryder, Stuart Manashil and Woodley will produce. Further principal casting on the film is underway.
FilmNation is financing the film and overseeing worldwide sales. Sales will commence at the upcoming Cannes Film Market with a presentation hosted by FilmNation with Szifron and Woodley in attendance.
“I’m privileged to be working with an actress as talented and inspiring as Shailene Woodley, this incredible producing team, and the support of FilmNation. ‘Misanthrope’ will deliver the kind of cinematic experience that made me a filmmaker and I can’t wait to share it with audiences all over the world,” Szifron said in a statement.
“Screenplays like ‘Misanthrope,’ that are this well executed both in theme and tone, are rare to come by with a director like Damian behind the wheel. I have complete trust we will create something that will have a profound impact on cinema and will resonate with audiences, especially given the times we are living in right now. I couldn’t be more excited to be a part of this team,” Woodley said in a statement.
“The minute this project came to us, we knew it was something timely and special that we had to make,” FilmNation Entertainment CEO Glen Basner said in a statement. “Damian is a rare talent, and we have no doubt he will create a decade-defining film.”
Woodley produced and starred in 2018’s “Adrift,” and returns in season 2 of “Big Little Lies,” which launches in the U.S. on HBO on June 9. Woodley just wrapped production on the independent film for director Drake Doremus entitled “No No No Yes.”
Szifron is represented by WME, Stuart Manashil and Bloom Hergott. Woodley is represented by Hyperion, Management 360 and Felker, Toczek, Suddleson and Abramson.
Woodley’s casting was first reported by Variety.