Alexandra-Therese Keining directs Kristin Scott Thomas in Paramour

KRISTIN SCOTT THOMAS TO STAR IN ‘PARAMOUR’ DIRECTED BY ALEXANDRA-THERESE KEINING

PROTAGONIST PICTURES LAUNCHING SALES ON US / GERMAN CO-PRODUCTION IN CANNES

London, UK (May 13, 2017) Academy Award nominee and BAFTA Award winner Kristin Scott Thomas (The English Patient, Darkest Hour, I’ve Loved You So Long) is set to star in Paramour, a thrilling story of seduction and extortion, from director Alexandra-Therese Keining (Girls Lost, Kiss Me), it was announced today by Protagonist Pictures CEO Mike Goodridge.

The film is inspired by the true story of the BMW Heiress Susanne Klatten, both blessed and cursed by her family’s heritage and wealth. She is a powerful woman who chooses to lead a reclusive existence away from the limelight. When the mysterious and seductive Helg Sgarbi enters her life, they embark upon a passionate, illicit affair – but once she is well and truly hooked, Helg reveals his sinister true intentions.

Written by Jordan Katz, the film is a US / German Co-Production set to shoot in in the fall 2017. Meredith Viera Productions’ Amy Rapp (Tower, Return), Occupant Entertainment’s Joe Neurauter (The Hallow, Madame Bovary) and Maze Pictures’ Phillip Kreuzer (Last Love, Death of a Superhero) are producing the project. Meredith Viera (Return, Tower) serves as Executive Producer.

“Paramour is a thrilling and provocative story about the dangers and responsibilities that one uber-wealthy woman is forced to confront,” commented Protagonist CEO Mike Goodridge. “Inspired by the extraordinary true story of Susanne Klatten and Helg Sgarbi, Jordan Katz’s script intelligently captures the intriguing dilemmas facing these two highly flawed characters. The combination of very exciting film-maker Alexandra-Therese Keining and the always compelling star Kristin Scott Thomas make for a heady cocktail which will appeal to adult audiences around the world."

Protagonist Pictures will launch international sales on the title in Cannes. ICM Partners is handling domestic rights to the drama.

Dame Kristin Scott Thomas is best known for her Academy Award nominated role opposite Ralph Fiennes in The English Patient. Throughout her career, she has appeared in an array of critically and commercially successful films including Gosford Park, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, The Other Boleyn Girl and Four Weddings and a Funeral, for which she won a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a supporting role. In 2015, she was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) for services to drama.

Swedish born writer-director Alexandra-Therese Keining first rose to international mprominence when her film "Kiss Me" received the Breakthrough Award at the American Film Institute’s AFI Fest in 2011 and is marked as an LGBTQ classic around the world. Her 2015 follow up "Girls Lost" premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and has won multiple awards for its thoughtful, experiential take on gender identity and was nominated for the prestigious European Film Award as well as in competition in Cannes Ecrans. She is next slated to direct the upcoming adaptation of popular YA novel "Just Like Beauty" co-produced by Zentropa Entertainments with an impressive cast of international actors.

Thomas is repped by Agence Adequat and Independent Talent Group. Keining is repped by ICM Partners and The Talent Group.

About Protagonist Pictures

Protagonist Pictures is an international finance, production and sales company which has a proven track record in outstanding films and commercial successes. Based in the UK, the company handles films from around the world, always maintaining a strong focus on filmmakers with exceptional vision and storytelling skills.

Protagonist’s current successes on release around the world include Ben Wheatley’s Free Fire with its ensemble cast of Brie Larson, Armie Hammer, Cillian Murphy, Sharlto Copley and Jack Reynor; Adam Smith’s Trespass Against Us starring Michael Fassbender and Brendan Gleesson, Charlie McDowell’s The Discovery with Rooney Mara, Jason Segel and Robert Redford, William Oldroyd’s TIFF 2016 buzz feature Lady Macbeth, the 2017 Directors’ Fortnight selections The Rider from Chloé Zhao and The Florida Project from Sean Baker and the 2017 Un Certain Regard Official Selection April’s Daughter from writer, director, producer Michel Franco. Currently in post-production are Clio Barnard’s Dark River, Richard Loncraine’s Finding Your Feet and Amma Asante’s Where Hands Touch, whilst Pawel Pawilkowski’s Cold War and Kristoffer Nyholm’s Keepers are currently shooting.