Amazon Studioshas acquiredNicolas Winding Refn’s anticipatedThe Neon Demonand will release it theatrically Stateside next summer. The studio has also released the first photo from this thriller, featuring starElle Fanning.The Neon Demonstarted production back in late March in Los Angeles, and this will be the director’s first film with Amazon Studios.
The Neon Demonis being jointly handled by Gaumont and Wild Bunch, who previously joined forces onNicolas Winding Refn’s last filmOnly God Forgives, which competed at CannesFilm Festivalin 2013. Gaumont and Wild Bunch co-financed and will co-distributeThe Neon Demon.The Neon Demoncenters on an aspiring model who moves to Los Angeles where her youth and vitality are devoured by a group of beauty-obsessed women who will go to any lengths to get what she has.
Co-written byMary Lawsand Refn,The Neon DemonstarsElle Fanning,Keanu Reeves,Christina Hendricks,Jena Malone,Abbey LeeandBella Heathcote. Refn’s partner,Lene Borglum(Valhalla Rising,Only God Forgives) produced under their Danish banner Space Rocket. Here’s what the director had to say about his new film in a statement.
“One morning I woke and realized I was both surrounded and dominated by women. Strangely, a sudden urge was planted in me to make a horror film about vicious beauty. After makingDriveand falling madly in love with the electricity of Los Angeles, I knew I had to return to tell the story ofThe Neon Demon.”
Refn won best director at Cannes in 2011 withRyan GoslingstarrerThe Neon Demon, which has become a near-cult movie and a major critical success.The Neon Demonbrings together Refn’s regular creative team: Editor Matthew Newman and composer Cliff Martinez.The Grandmaster’s cinematographerPhilippe Le Sourdcompletes the key crew. The deal was negotiated by Gaumont ’s Cecile Gaget and WildBunch ’s Vincent Maraval/Carole Baraton on behalf of the director. Amazon Studios was launched in June to acquire original movies for theatrical release and early-window distribution on Amazon Prime Instant Video.The Neon Demonis one of the first acquisitions scored by the banner. Their first release will beSpike Lee’s Chi-Raq next month. Take a look at the first photo fromThe Neon Demonbelow, and stay tuned for more on the upcoming film.
