Is the erotic thriller genre back on the rise? With films like “Dreams“ hitting theaters soon, projects like “Ruins“ and a Darren Aronofsky–Gillian Flynn team-up on the way, and Paul Verhoeven looking to return to the director’s chair, the sub-genre may be on the cusp of a resurrection. Just don’t talk to Sharon Stone about Amazon MGM‘s planned “Basic Instinct” reboot with original screenwriter Joe Eszterhas; it sounds like she couldn’t give any less of a shit.
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But to the matter at hand: another erotic thriller on the upcoming films radar, and one that stars Adria Arjona, co-star of Richard Linklater‘s comedic riff on the sub-genre, 2023’s “Hit Man.” The actress will star opposite British actor Kingsley Ben-Adir in “Scorn,” from “Search Party” co-creator Sarah-Violet Bliss. It’s a reunion between Arjona and Topic Studios, too, after last year’s comedy “Splitsville.”
So what’s “Scorn” about? The logline reads as pretty standard erotic thriller fare: “A woman begins a passionate affair with a married man. When he then tries to re-cast their love as just a fling, she refuses to go away quietly.” But fans of the HBO Max series “Search Party” should know with Bliss at the helm and penning the script, that this one’s story should bend the usual motifs in some unexpected directions.
Topic Studio fully finances “Scorn,” and produces alongside Dylan Clark and Brian Williams via Dylan Clark Productions and Amy Jackson via Unified. Bliss plans to shoot the film in the UK at the end of the month, so expect the film to reach audiences as early as late 2026.
Arjona adds “Scorn” to a list of upcoming projects that includes “Onslaught,” “Alpha Gang,” and “The Thomas Crown Affair“; the latter hits theaters on March 5, 2027, and the other two should release the same year. Other recent roles for the actress beyond the aforementioned “Hit Man” and “Splitsville” include “Andor” S2 and “Blink Twice.”
As for Ben-Adir, his recent films include “Barbie,” “Bob Marley: One Love,” and the upcoming “Frank & Lewis.” The actor also starred in the Marvel Disney+ series “Secret Invasion” in 2023.
Does Topic Studios see “Scorn” as an awards contender? Maybe, after the success of “A Real Pain” and the Emmy-winning series “100 Foot Wave” last year. Other recent projects for the banner include “Wicker,” premiering at Sundance later this month, and the documentary “It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley.”
Stay tuned for more details on “Scorn” as they arrive.
