Sony Pictures Classics has acquired the rights to Paul Verhoeven‘s new drama “Elle,” the studio announced Wednesday.
The film was written by David Birke based on Phillipe Djian’s novel “Oh…” It will screen in competition at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival.
The film stars Isabelle Huppert, Laurent Lafitte, Charles Berling, Virginie Efira and Anne Consigny. It is produced by Saïd Ben Saïd of SBS Productions and Michel Merkt, and co-produced by France 2 Cinémas. SBS International is handling sales.
Michèle (Huppert) seems indestructible. Head of a leading video game company, she brings the same ruthless attitude to her love life as to business. But after she is attacked in her home by an unknown assailant, her life changes forever. When she tracks the man down, they are both drawn into a curious and thrilling game that may, at any moment, spiral out of control.
Sony will distribute the film in North America, Latin America, Australia, New Zealand, Scandinavia, Eastern Europe (excluding Russia) and Asia (excluding China and Japan).
“Elle” marks the second film between Ben Saïd and Sony Pictures Classics, having previously worked together on Roman Polanski‘s “Carnage.” It is also the second film Sony Pictures Classics and Verhoeven partnered on after working together on 2006 war drama “Black Book.”
“Sony has always been my home in the U.S. and I’m excited that Sony Classics will take care of ‘Elle’ with the wonderful actress Isabelle Huppert,” Verhoeven said. “I’m pleased that even my European films have ended up with them.”