Following her recent Best Actress Oscar win for "Anora," Mikey Madison is set to star alongside Kirsten Dunst in the upcoming thriller "Reptilia". The film is directed by Alejandro Landes Echavarría, known for his 2019 war drama "Monos". Landes Echavarría co-wrote the script with Duke Merriman.
"Reptilia" tells the story of a dental hygienist who finds herself lured into the dark and dangerous world of Florida's exotic animal trade by a mysterious mermaid.
Madison's role in "Reptilia" marks her first project since her acclaimed performance in "Anora". She previously gained recognition for her roles in "Scream 5" and Quentin Tarantino's "Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood". Dunst, who recently starred as a war photojournalist in Alex Garland's "Civil War," has several projects in post-production, including Derek Cianfrance's crime drama "Roofman," which features Channing Tatum and LaKeith Stanfield.
The film is produced by Pastel, Imperative Entertainment, and AF Films, with Landes Echavarría also producing through his A Stela Cine banner. Black Bear is providing financing for the project.
Charades will handle international sales at the Cannes market, while UTA Independent Film Group and 30West will jointly manage the U.S. distribution rights. Principal photography is scheduled to begin in the fall.
Landes Echavarría's previous work, "Monos," won the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival. It also received the Best Film award at the 2019 BFI London Film Festival and was Colombia's submission for the Oscars.
Dunst won the Cannes Best Actress award in 2011 for her performance in "Melancholia". Her other notable roles include "The Virgin Suicides," "Marie Antoinette," "Spider-Man," and "The Power of the Dog," which earned her an Oscar nomination.