Deadline reports that A24 has acquired U.S. rights to two-time Palme d’Or winner Ruben Östlund's next film, The Entertainment System is Down. A24 struck the deal with Co-Production Office, a Paris-based production company. Walking Dead alum Samantha Morton, who portrayed Alpha in the series, has been cast for the film.
The new comedy is a follow-up to Östlund's Triangle of Sadness (2022), a satirical black comedy, and marks his second English-language film. Morton and Nicholas Bruan were recently added to the cast photo for the film, which previously included Keanu Reeves, Kirsten Dunst, and Daniel Brühl. Little is known about the characters, although reportedly Dunst and Brühl portray a doomed married couple.
According to Deadline, Östlund and his producer, Erik Hemmendorff, purchased a Boeing 747 for the film, whose brief synopsis from IMDB reads: Set on a long-haul flight where the entertainment system fails, the film will see passengers forced to face the horror of being bored.
"We bought the plane and it was quite early in the process of the film. So suddenly it was like, ‘Oh, we have to make this film."
- Ruben Östlund
Morton was recently awarded a Fellowship at the 2024 EE BAFTA Film Awards, the arts charity's highest accolade. The event, hosted by David Tennant, bestowed the award that recognizes exceptional contributions to film, games, or television. During her acceptance speech, Morton used this time to remember children who live in poverty or who can't live safely at home. A situation she is familiar with as she experienced this very thing as a child.
Next, Morton will reprise her role as Catherine de Medici in the second season of The Serpent Queen, which premieres on Starz on July 12, 2024. The series is based on Catherine de Medici: Renaissance Queen, a nonfiction book by series creator Justin Haythe. Catherine was married into the French Valois court at 14 and was expected to bring a large dowry and produce heirs. Due to her clever mind, she ruled France for 30 years. The story is told via flashbacks, in which actress Liv Hill portrays the younger Queen and Morton as the elder. Check out the teaser for season two here.
She will expand her resume with the release of her debut album, Daffodils and Dirt, which will be released on June 13. You can pre-order the album now. The album is released by Sam Morton, the duo of Morton, music producer, and artist Richard Russell. Watch the music videos via the Sam Morton YouTube channel.
