‘Emilia Perez’: Selena Gomez & Zoe Saldaña Circling Jacques Audiard’s Transgender Musical Comedy Starring Karla Sofia Gascón

It seems like the Cannes Market continues to surprise us with each new announcement. French director Jacques Audiard‘s (“Rust & Bone“) next film has been officially announced and you’re likely going to do a double-take when learning what it’s about.

Titled “Emilia Perez,” the new film is courting two high-profile actresses according to a report from Deadline. It is described as a musical comedy that stars transgender actress Karla Sofia Gascón as a fugitive from the law that undergoes a sex change to evade authorities.

Another big aspect is that talks are underway with Selena Gomez and Zoe Saldaña to play roles.

They’ve also provided a logline for the film that certainly hammers home the comedic angle:

A musical comedy about an El Chapo-type fugitive who can’t get away from the law so has a sex change. Ten years later she misses her children immensely and returns as their aunt.

READ MORE: Jacques Audiard On Sex, Comedy, & Computers In ‘Paris, 13th District’ [Interview]

Gomez has been getting a lot of praise/buzz from her hit Hulu murder mystery comedy series “Only Murders In The Building.” She also stars in a quirky cooking show shot in her own kitchen for HBO Max called “Selena + Chef” that gained quite a following during the pandemic.

Saldaña has been focusing mainly on franchise projects with James Cameron‘s multiple “Avatar” sequels, James Gunn‘s “Guardians of The Galaxy Vol. 3,” and may still return for “Star Trek 4” directed by Matt Shakman (“WandaVision“).

LPI is financing the project and Wild Bunch and CAA Media Finance are overseeing sales at Cannes.

“Emilia Perez” sounds as though it’s in the realm of extreme satire, given the synopsis, but we’ll need to see a trailer or footage to be completely sure. What isn’t mentioned is when Audiard is expected to begin shooting the comedy.