Washington [US]: Acclaimed actress Tilda Swinton is set to lead the cast of David Lowery’s next film, Death in Her Hands, a psychological thriller based on Ottessa Moshfegh’s cult novel of the same name, Variety reported.
Described as an “anarchic whodunnit” and an “otherworldly psychological thriller,” the film is being adapted for the screen by Lowery, who is best known for titles like The Green Knight and A Ghost Story.
Death in Her Hands will be produced by Iain Canning, Emile Sherman, and Jeanie Igoe, with Simon Gillis and Ann Phillips serving as executive producers.
Lowery, who is currently in post-production on his film Mother Mary, expressed his admiration for the source material:
“I am a devoted fan of Ottessa Moshfegh, and the opportunity to translate ‘Death In Her Hands’ to the big screen has been, in some ways, a subterfuge for getting to spend a great deal of time obsessing over her prose. But now the ruse is up!”
He added:
“The script begot by the novel will soon become a film, and I am suddenly aware more than ever that adapting this particular work represents a devious challenge (anyone who’s read the novel will understand why)! But I’m ready for it, and am emboldened to have such wonderful collaborators at my side, the whole team at See-Saw, Jeanie, and of course, the incredible Tilda Swinton, who I know will illuminate Ottessa’s story in ways I could only dream of.”
Producers Canning and Sherman also praised the pairing of Lowery and Swinton:
“David Lowery is a master of crafting striking, atmospheric stories, and there’s no one better to bring Ottessa Moshfegh’s haunting and brilliant novel to the screen. We can’t wait for audiences to step into the world he creates and be swept away by Vesta’s story, played by the incomparable, magnetic, and endlessly compelling Tilda Swinton.”
The film is being developed under the banner of See-Saw Films, known for producing award-winning projects like The King’s Speech and The Power of the Dog.