Gillian Anderson and Rebecca Hall are teaming up for a new psychological thriller that brings two complex characters into the same household. The actresses will lead The Portrait, an upcoming film written and directed by Sara Colangelo.
According to Deadline, the story follows a woman whose secret relationship with a wealthy businessman takes an unexpected turn after he becomes seriously ill. Unable to reach him, she finds another way to enter his life, putting her in direct contact with the person closest to him.
Anderson will play Valeria, an internationally acclaimed writer who has spent years having an affair with Martín, a wealthy businessman. When his sudden illness leaves him inaccessible, Valeria becomes desperate to see him and remain close during his final days.
Gillian Anderson & Rebecca Hall face off in a twisted story of love and deception
Hall will portray Isla, Martín’s wife and an artist, whom Valeria approaches to paint her portrait. However, the commission also gives Valeria an opportunity to enter Martín’s home and become part of his family life without revealing her true connection to him.
The arrangement brings the two women together inside the family’s grand London townhouse. Their unusual relationship sets up a tense psychological game built around secrecy, deception, and competing loyalties.
The Portrait is based on a novel by Italian author Ilaria Bernardini. Colangelo, best known for directing The Kindergarten Teacher and Worth, will write and direct the adaptation. She noted that the project continues her exploration of moral ambiguity, female transgression, and the different ways women exercise power.
Talia Kleinhendler and Osnat Handelsman Keren of Pie Films, the production company behind The Lost Daughter and The Kindergarten Teacher, will produce the film alongside Francesca Cualbu of the Italian production company The Apartment.
Production is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2027, with filming planned in the United Kingdom. WME Independent will represent the film’s domestic rights at the American Film Market, while Rocket Science will handle international sales.
Originally reported on ComingSoon.
