EXCLUSIVE: Pathé International will be launching sales at Cannes on Guillaume Canet’s new psychological thriller Karma, starring Oscar winner Marion Cotillard, three-time César nominee Denis Ménochet (Inglorious Basterds) and Goya winner Leonardo Sbaraglia (Pain and Glory).
Canet, who won a César for his Harlan Coben adaptation Tell No One in 2006, has written the script with Simon Jacquet and is directing the project, which is currently in production in Europe. Plot details remain under wraps but we understand Canet devised the main role for his wife and longtime screen collaborator Cotillard.
Luis Zahera (As Bestas) also joins but contrary to some online speculation Mark Ruffalo is not in the cast. Director of photography is Benoît Debie (Spring Breakers) while Laure Gardette serves as editor (Polisse).
The French-language film heralds from ascending French production company Iconoclast, which is also behind Romain Gavras’ starry action-comedy Sacrifice, and Canet’s label Caneo.
Delivery is expected in Q2, 2026 (making a Cannes berth a possibility), with Pathé handling French distribution.
Canet took to Instagram earlier this month to flag that filming had begun on the project, thanking partners on it including Pathé, M6 and Netflix, the latter of which is understood to have taken a window of rights in France.
The project marks the ninth collaboration between Cotillard and Canet after films including Cannes entry Blood Ties, RocknRoll and Astérix et Obélix : L’Empire du Milieu.
Ardavan Safaee, Chairman of Pathé Films, spoke for the first time today about Karma: “We are thrilled to embark on this new collaboration with Guillaume Canet and to celebrate his return to the thriller genre he has mastered so brilliantly. His multi-layered script will captivate and surprise audiences at every turn, while delivering an emotional and inspiring journey of love and redemption.”
The Count of Monte Cristo outfit Pathé will also be back in Cannes this year with festival opener Leave One Day by Amélie Bonnin. You can check out that film’s first trailer here.
