The erotic thriller has been slowly clawing its way back into mainstream moviemaking for years, and the latest package comes with a strong star-director combination. Deadline reports that Kate Hudson and Ana de Armas are attached to star in “Palm Grove,” an original, big-screen erotic thriller written by James Morosini and set to be directed by Kornél Mundruczó, the acclaimed Hungarian filmmaker behind “Pieces of a Woman,” which earned Vanessa Kirby an Oscar nomination, as well as films such as “White God” and “Evolution.” Chernin Entertainment has boarded the project, which is expected to go out to buyers immediately.
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Plot details are still mostly under wraps, though the story is said to be set in Miami, giving the film a glossy, sun-drenched backdrop for what sounds like a more adult-skewing thriller. No distributor or production start date has been announced yet.
Morosini, meanwhile, broke out with “I Love My Dad,” which won both the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award at SXSW. He has several studio projects in motion, including “Mommy’s Home” at Lionsgate and “Inner Child” at Universal, which is being developed as part of the Lego universe. He is also attached to direct “Bulls,” starring Dylan O’Brien, Lewis Pullman, and Kaia Gerber.
For Hudson, “Palm Grove” adds another dramatic project to a busy stretch that includes Netflix’s “Running Point” and “Song Sung Blue.” De Armas is coming off “Ballerina” and remains best known for performances in “Knives Out,” “No Time to Die,” and “Blonde,” the latter of which earned her an Oscar nomination.
More details should emerge once “Palm Grove” hits the marketplace. Still, with Hudson, de Armas, Mundruczó, Morosini, and Chernin attached, the package should draw plenty of interest from studios and streamers looking for star-driven adult material.
