Neon, with six straight Palme d’Or winners, is eyeing to keep that streak alive this year with half a dozen contenders in Competition, but it is already setting up its infinity stones for next year’s Cannes Film Festival. The company recently acquired Bong Joon-ho’s “Ally,” and has now snatched up the next film from another Cannes regular.
According to Variety,Jeff Nichols’ new film “King Snake,” which recently began production in Arkansas, has been acquired by Neon. The project reunites Nichols with longtime collaborator Michael Shannon and stars Margaret Qualley and Drew Starkey in the lead roles. A 2027 release is being eyed.
The story is set in rural Arkansas and follows a young couple who inherit a farm, only to discover it is tied to a violent and possibly supernatural past. As they attempt to settle into their new life, they are confronted by both real-world hardship and increasingly unsettling forces that blur the line between psychological and supernatural horror.
Nichols is directing from his own screenplay. The film continues his long-standing collaboration with Michael Shannon, who has appeared in most of his features, while also marking a new genre direction into Southern Gothic horror. Qualley and Starkey are Nichols newcomers.
Nichols is the director of “Shotgun Stories,” “Take Shelter,” “Mud,” “Midnight Special,” and “Loving.” His most recent film, “The Bikeriders,” made little impact, earning $21M against a $40M budget — but he remains one of the more interesting American filmmakers working today.
As for Neon, well, their strategy is already pretty obvious: stack the odds, double down on auteur-driven films by filmmakers with Cannes history, hope for a Competition slot, and ultimately win the Palme d’Or. It’s also a lot cheaper than bankrolling movies in-house, something they rarely do—unless your name is Osgood Perkins.