Briefly delayed while writer/director Luc Besson faces allegations of sexual impropriety and misconduct, and while Besson's company EuropaCorp shuts down its in-house distribution business, the action film ANNA is now set for a June 21st release in the United States through Lionsgate's Summit Entertainment label.
Starring Russian supermodel Sasha Luss as the title character, ANNA is the latest in a long line of female-led action projects that Besson has written, directed, and/or produced over the last few decades, following such films as LA FEMME NIKITA, POINT OF NO RETURN, COLOMBIANA, LUCY, etc.
Described as "an electrifying thrill-ride unfolding with propulsive energy, startling twists and breathtaking action", ANNA has the following synopsis:
Beneath Anna Poliatova's striking beauty lies a secret that will unleash her indelible strength and skill to become one of the world's most feared government assassins.
Helen Mirren, Luke Evans, and Cillian Murphy co-star.
ANNA appears to be exactly the sort of movie you expect to see from Besson, a return to more straightforward action after the sci-fi adventure VALERIAN AND THE CITY OF A THOUSAND PLANETS, which didn't go over as well as his sci-fi film THE FIFTH ELEMENT did back in the day. The trailer for ANNA can be seen below, and it has a good amount of action, gunfire, and cool fight choreography on display.