‘Emmanuelle’: First Image Revealed Of Star Noémie Merlant In Erotic Drama; Naomi Watts, Will Sharpe & Jamie Campbell Bower Among Cast To Join As Pathé Secures French Rights

EXCLUSIVE: Production has wrapped in Paris on Audrey Diwan’s (Happening) anticipated erotic drama Emmanuelle, which stars Noémie Merlant (Portrait Of A Lady On Fire) in the title role.

We can reveal an exclusive first look at the English-language movie, which will also star two-time Oscar nominee Naomi Watts (Mulholland Drive) opposite Merlant, Will Sharpe (The White Lotus) as the male lead, Jamie Campbell Bower (Stranger Things), Chacha Huang (Money Heist) and Anthony Wong (Infernal Affairs).

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Inspired by the character and world created by writer Emmanuelle Arsan, the film shot in Hong Kong and Paris from a script co-written with Rebecca Zlotowski (Other People’s Children).

Plot details are being kept under wraps but Diwan’s film will deviate from the lucrative and cult 1977 movie adaptation of Arsan’s novel, which starred Sylvia Kristel as the wife of a French diplomat in Bangkok who embarks on a voyage of sexual discovery.

You can read our new interview with Diwan about her vision for the movie here.

A hot project since we first announced it in Cannes last year, Pathé has snapped up French distribution rights and France Télévision pre-bought French TV.

GAGA will distribute in Japan, Wild Bunch Germany in Germany, Beta Fiction in Spain, Cinemundo in Portugal, Ascot-Elite in Switzerland, Nashe Kino in CIS, and Vertical in Eastern Europe.

Pic is produced by Chantelouve, Rectangle Productions and Goodfellas. International sales are handled by The Veterans, with the U.S. — which remains open — being co-handled with CAA Media Finance.

Diwan’s acclaimed 2021 film Happening, about a young woman’s illegal abortion in the 1960s, won the Golden Lion at the 2021 Venice Film Festival.

César winner Merlant recently made her English-speaking debut in Tár opposite Cate Blanchett.

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