Production on “Her Private Hell,” Nicolas Winding Refn‘s first film since 2016’s “The Neon Demon,” is underway, and with that come a new batch of casting announcements. Deadline has the scoop there: the latest newcomers include Dougray Scott, Diego Calva, Aoi Yamada, Hidetoshi Nishijima, and Shioli Kutsuna.
All told, this is an older batch of actors and actresses on average than the main cast of “Her Private Hell.” While plot details remain under wraps for the film, it stars a who’s who of young Hollywood: Sophie Thatcher, Charles Melton, Kristine Froseth, and Havana Rose Liu. But the new cast member shouldn’t be entirely unfamiliar to American audiences. Calva starred in Damien Chazelle‘s “Babylon” and, more recently, “On Swift Horses.” Scottish actor Scott had a juicy villain role once upon a time in “Mission: Impossible 2,” and recently starred in “Sherlock & Daughter.” Marvel fans know Kutsuna as Yukio from the “Deadpool” films, while Nishijima starred in “Drive My Car.” As for Yamada? She recently starred in Wim Wender‘s late-career hit, 2023’s “Perfect Days.”
As noted earlier, Refn is already busy shooting his latest film, with sights on a 2026 premiere (he likely eyes next year’s Cannes Film Festival). NEON co-finances the film, and reps its worldwide rights while releasing it in US theaters. NEON International handles its foreign sales. Refn co-writes “Her Private Hell” with Esti Giordani, and produces the pic. Executive producers include Takuma Takasaki, as well as Kimberly Willming, Christina Erritzøe, and Lene Børglum via Refn’s byNWR Originals banner.
So will “Her Private Hell” be another splashy Cannes title for NEON in 2026? The company is coming off yet another successful fest on the Croisette, winning six awards and its sixth consecutive Palem d’Or win with Jafar Panahi‘s “It Was Just An Accident.” Other NEON titles at Cannes 2025 include Joachim Trier‘s “Sentimental Value,” Julia Ducournau‘s “Alpha,” Raoul Peck‘s “Orwell: 2+2=5,” and Michael Angelo Covino‘s “Splitsville.” NEON also acquired the rights to Oliver Laxe‘s buzzy “Sirât,” Kleber Mendonça Filho‘s “The Secret Agent,” and Ugo Bienvenu‘s “Arco” at the festival this year.
Stay tuned for more details on “Her Private Hell” as production on the film continues.
