NEON, which will be distributing David Cronenberg’s new body horror film Crimes of the Future and was also behind the Best Picture winner Parasite, has picked up the U.S. rights to Mothers’ Instinct, a psychological thriller starring Academy Award winners Anne Hathaway (Les Misérables) and Jessica Chastain (The Eyes of Tammy Faye). Scheduled to begin filming on May 25th, Mothers’ Instinct is a remake of the 2018 Belgian film Duelles, which was loosely based on Barbara Abel’s 2012 novel Behind the Hatred (Derrière la haine).
Duelles won nine Magritte Awards (the Belgian equivalent of the Oscars), including Best Film and Best Director. It currently holds the record for the most Magritte Awards won by a single film. Duelles director Olivier Masset-Depasse is also at the helm of this English-language telling of the story, which has been scripted by Sarah Conradt-Kroehler (50 States of Fright: 13 Steps to Hell (Washington)). Here’s the synopsis:
Set in the early ‘60s, best friends and neighbors Alice (Chastain) and Celine (Hathaway) both live an idyllic traditional lifestyle with manicured lawns, successful husbands and sons of the same age. Life’s perfect harmony is suddenly shattered after a tragic accident. Guilt, suspicion and paranoia combine to unravel their sisterly bond and a psychological battle of wills begins as the maternal instinct reveals its darker side.
Anton has fully financed Mothers’ Instinct, which is being produced by Hathaway and Chastain, as well as Paul Nelson of Mosaic, Jacques-Henri Bronckart, and Kelly Carmichael, Chastain’s producing partner at her Freckle Films banner. Anton’s founder and CEO Sébastien Raybaud is overseeing the project with John Zois, the company’s President of Production. Chastain and Carmichael provided the following statement to Deadline:
Neon is a true filmmaker’s haven. Their unique vision and distinctive campaigns are a reflection of their mission to bring the best and most diverse cinematic experience to US audiences. Mothers’ Instinct will be in excellent hands with Tom and the team.”
NEON’s Cecile Gaget added:
Mothers’ Instinct could not have found a more perfect home than with Neon. The amazing team brilliantly masterminded the theatrical release and awards strategy on films from Spencer, through to the groundbreaking success of Parasite.”
I haven’t seen Duelles, but the story of Mothers’ Instinct sounds intriguing and it should be interesting to see Hathaway and Chastain engage in a “battle of wills”. How does this project sound to you? Let us know by leaving a comment below.