Carrie Coon, Ben Platt, and Lukas Gage to Star in the Engaging Psychological Thriller ‘I Am Not Your Mother’ at Cannes Market
EXCLUSIVE: Carrie Coon, known for her role in The White Lotus, will star alongside Ben Platt from The Politician and Lukas Gage of Smile 2 in the upcoming psychological thriller I Am Not Your Mother. Directed by Craig Johnson, who previously helmed The Skeleton Twins, the screenplay is a collaborative effort between Johnson and Ryan O’Connell, creator of Special.
Mister Smith Entertainment will debut international sales for the “twisted and darkly funny psychological thriller” at the forthcoming Cannes market. The film is currently in pre-production, with CAA and UTA co-representing U.S. rights.
The film’s synopsis describes Ollie (Platt), a young queer director with a complicated past, who becomes obsessed with Nora Dresden (Coon), a once-iconic actress striving for a comeback. When she agrees to star in his debut feature, their professional relationship devolves into a toxic battle for control, blurring the lines between artist and muse.
Jared Ian Goldman of Russian Doll and Zola Elgart Glassman from The Gallerist are producing the project for Mighty Engine. Co-financing comes from Chris Quintos and Tyler Boehm of Unapologetic Projects, along with Naia Cucukov and Peter Richards of Working Barn Productions.
Director Johnson previously received the Waldo Salt Award at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival for The Skeleton Twins, which was also nominated for the Grand Jury Prize. His other works include The Parenting and Alex Strangelove.
Shane Kelly, SVP of International Sales & Acquisitions at Mister Smith, commented: “Craig and Ryan’s rework of the classic ‘90s obsession thriller grabbed us from the first few pages – tapping into stan culture and diva worship in an era where identity and performance are getting harder and harder to tell apart. It’s self-aware, stylish, and gets just a little unhinged as it hurtles towards its shocking climax. Led by this pitch-perfect cast, this is a film that will be deliciously relevant for a generation that’s fluent in how to be their own main character.”
Co-writer and director Craig Johnson expressed his excitement, stating, “I am thrilled to be collaborating with Carrie, Ben, and Lukas and my friends at Mighty Engine, Mister Smith, Unapologetic, and Working Barn on this deranged and delicious film, written in a passionate fever with my dear friend, Ryan O’Connell. Get ready for a fierce, funny, and blood-spattered good time at the movies.”
Coon is represented by UTA and Peikoff Mahan Law Office, Platt by CAA, Immersive Management, Untitled Entertainment, and Jackoway Austen, and Gage by WME, Luber Roklin Entertainment, and Goodman, Genow. Johnson’s representatives include UTA, Mosaic, and Johnson Shapiro, while Mighty Engine is also represented by UTA.
