Two-time Oscar winner Renée Zellweger is set to star in psychological thriller Phantom Son, which will be directed by Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts director David Yates.
AGC Studios will finance, co-produce and launch sales on the project, which has an original screenplay by Ian Scott McCullough (Apple TV’s The Mosquito Coast). AGC co-reps worldwide sales with CAA Media Finance and is launching ahead of next week’s American Film Market.
The story follows Ronnie, a young runaway struggling to survive on the street, who is taken in by Audrey (Zellweger), a lonely woman whose own son was kidnapped twenty years prior. As Audrey becomes convinced that Ronnie actually is her long-lost son, a twisted game of cat and mouse develops, blurring the line between deception and delusion.
Additional casting is underway for a planned Q1, 2026 start.
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The project was originated and developed by Zellweger and Carmella Casinelli under their Big Picture Co. banner and attached Yates to direct and continued development with him before ultimately partnering with AGC Studios to finance and co-produce.
“Phantom Son is that rare discovery with promise to connect on a broad scale with the kind of rich, character-driven storytelling we love, and we’re thrilled it’s taking shape with such an extraordinary team. With David at the helm, and AGC as our partner, we’re poised to deliver something really special,” said Zellweger and Casinelli.
Anant Tamirisa negotiated on behalf of AGC Studios.
Cold Mountain and Chicago star Zellweger is coming off Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy and Only Murders In The Building. Yates is coming off Netflix pic Pain Hustlers with Emily Blunt.
Zellweger is repped by CAA; David Yates is repped by Casarotto Ramsay & Associates, CAA and Goodman, Genow; Ian Scott McCullough is repped by Independent Artist Group (IAG) and Heroes & Villians.