David Cronenberg’s return to the director’s chair has begun as Cronenberg’s latest film Crimes of the Future has started production in Athens, Greece. The film stars Viggo Mortensen (Green Book), Léa Seydoux (No Time to Die) and Kristen Stewart (Happiest Season).
This will mark the fourth time Mortensen and Cronenberg have worked together after Mortensen starred in A History of Violence, Eastern Promises and A Dangerous Mind. Cronenberg has also written the screenplay, a first for him in over 20 years. Joining Mortensen, Seydoux and Stewart in the film are Scott Speedman, Welket Bungué, Don McKellar, Lihi Kornowski, Yorgos Karamichos and Yorgos Pirpassopoulos.
“As we begin filming ‘Crimes of the Future,’ just two days into this new adventure with David Cronenberg, it feels like we’ve entered a story he collaborated on with Samuel Beckett and William Burroughs, if that were possible,” said Mortensen. “We are being pulled into a world that is not quite like this or any other, and yet is one that feels strangely familiar, immediate and quite credible. I can’t wait to see where we end up.”
Crimes of the Future takes “a deep dive into the not-so-distant future where humankind is learning to adapt to its synthetic surroundings. This evolution moves humans beyond their natural state and into a metamorphosis, altering their biological makeup. While some embrace the limitless potential of trans-humanism, others attempt to police it. Either way, “Accelerated Evolution Syndrome” is spreading fast. Saul Tenser is a beloved performance artist who has embraced Accelerated Evolution Syndrome, sprouting new and unexpected organs in his body. Along with his partner Caprice, Tenser has turned the removal of these organs into a spectacle for his loyal followers to marvel at in real-time theatre. But with both the government and a strange subculture taking note, Tenser is forced to consider what would be his most shocking performance of all.”
Filming will take place in Athens and will wrap production in September.
Ricky Church – Follow me on Twitter for more movie news and nerd talk.