Four actors from very different corners of film and television are coming together for a project that sounds anything but conventional. The Confessions will unite Alexander Skarsgård, Hunter Schafer, Maya Hawke and Harry Melling in a surreal new feature produced by Ari Aster and Lars Knudsen.
However, the most intriguing part of this announcement may be the filmmakers behind the camera. Canadian directors Guy Maddin, Galen Johnson and Evan Johnson are returning with a story involving condemned nuns, a missing sea captain and a troubled romance that stretches across the world.
An unusual premise, a recognizable ensemble and an established independent production team give this film a distinctive identity before its international sales campaign has even begun.
The Confessions brings together four actors from different worlds
This newly announced ensemble connects performers associated with fantasy, science fiction, television drama and independent cinema. Each arrives with a different audience, although the production has not disclosed which characters they will portray.
According to Variety’s November 10 exclusive, the confirmed cast includes:
- Alexander Skarsgård, whose credits include Wicker.
- Hunter Schafer, who is attached to Blade Runner 2099.
- Maya Hawke, widely recognized for Stranger Things.
- Harry Melling, whose recent work includes Pillion.
For viewers familiar with Hawke’s television work, this announcement offers another project to follow beyond Hawkins. Meanwhile, the Stranger Things universe is also expanding through a new prequel set in the 1950s, although that production is separate from this film.
What makes the casting particularly interesting is the absence of a conventional character breakdown. Rather than introducing four recognizable roles, the announcement establishes an ensemble whose place within the story remains unknown. Consequently, the film’s strange premise currently provides more clues about its tone than its characters.
The Confessions follows a disturbing romance across the world
The new feature is described as a cautionary psycho-dramedy, a combination that suggests psychological tension, dramatic conflict and an unconventional sense of humor.
At the center of the premise is a group of nuns facing condemnation. They become witnesses to a cursed romantic triangle involving a sea captain who has disappeared and his wife, a poet. Their complicated relationship extends across different parts of the world, giving the story an unusually broad geographical scope.
That description leaves several important questions unanswered. The identities of the people involved in the triangle have not been fully explained, nor has the relationship between the nuns and the central romance. Likewise, the announcement does not establish whether the story will unfold chronologically.
Still, the premise fits the directors’ established interest in bending genre conventions. Instead of presenting a straightforward romantic drama, the project places an intimate relationship inside a larger, potentially unsettling narrative.
The directors are continuing the creative path established by Rumours
Guy Maddin, Galen Johnson and Evan Johnson previously collaborated on Rumours, a political satire featuring Cate Blanchett, Alicia Vikander and Charles Dance. The film follows world leaders who lose their way in the woods during a G7 summit.
Rumours premiered out of competition at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. Its premise transformed a recognizable political gathering into an absurd situation, reflecting the trio’s reputation for surrealist filmmaking and unexpected combinations of genres.
Their next feature appears to pursue a different narrative direction. Where Rumours used international politics as its starting point, The Confessions turns toward romance, religious figures and psychological unease.
Nevertheless, both projects share an important creative characteristic. Each begins with a recognizable dramatic situation before introducing elements that challenge ordinary storytelling expectations.
This is also why the directors’ involvement matters as much as the cast. Their work is not defined by one familiar genre, and the newly announced film seems designed to preserve that freedom rather than follow a conventional commercial formula.
Ari Aster and international sales partners give the project momentum
The production also marks another collaboration between the filmmakers and Square Peg, the production company of Ari Aster and Lars Knudsen. Square Peg became involved during early development after previously working with the directing trio on Rumours.
Aster has expressed considerable admiration for Maddin and the Johnson brothers. He also considers their new screenplay exceptionally distinctive and captivating, reinforcing his enthusiasm for supporting their work.
Square Peg has credits including Bugonia, Midsommar and The Drama. Meanwhile, Daniel Bekerman’s Scythia Films brings experience from productions such as The Witch, The Apprentice and Falling.
Thin Stuff, the company associated with Galen Johnson, Evan Johnson and Fritzi Adelman, is another Canadian production partner. Its credits include Rumours, A.Rimbaud and Strong Son.
Here are the confirmed production and sales arrangements:
- Directors: Guy Maddin, Galen Johnson and Evan Johnson.
- Producers: Ari Aster and Lars Knudsen through Square Peg, with Daniel Bekerman’s Scythia Films also joining the project.
- U.S. production company: Square Peg.
- Canadian production companies: Scythia Films and Thin Stuff.
- Production support: Telefilm Canada.
- Sales launch: American Film Market (AFM).
- North American rights: CAA Media Finance and WME Independent are co-representing the project.
- International sales: French company Charades.
The Confessions heads to AFM without a release date
At the American Film Market, the project is being introduced to potential buyers, which makes the market an important part of this announcement. However, a sales launch should not be confused with a confirmed distribution agreement or theatrical release.
AFM is also attracting productions with dramatically different ambitions and financial scales. For comparison, the Elden Ring movie arrived at AFM as A24’s most expensive film project, illustrating the variety of films seeking international business opportunities at the market.
In this case, the selling point is less about blockbuster spectacle and more about a distinctive creative team, recognizable actors and a screenplay with an unusual identity.
For now, The Confessions has no announced release date, filming schedule or confirmed character assignments. Its next developments to watch are distribution agreements and further production details. Until then, the central attraction remains the prospect of seeing four familiar performers enter the unpredictable cinematic world of Maddin and the Johnson brothers.
Creator of the website, Pokemon trainer by nature. Trying to report on everything related to the world of video games, series and movies. Yu-Gi-Oh is my weakness, collecting cards since the dawn of time.
