UPDATE: A reader has pointed out an interview where Audiard talks about the prequel:
[…] A prequel to “Emilia Pérez,” showing what Manitas was like when he was struggling with Emilia Pérez deep inside him. It would be a movie about the time when Manitas is already Emilia, but they’re also the drug kingpin […]
EARLIER: Jacques Audiard’s “Emilia Perez” is now available to stream on Netflix. The film, which won the Jury Prize and Best Actress for its three leads (Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofía Gascón and Selena Gomez) at Cannes, is one of the few Oscar locks this year.
A French producer is now telling me that Audiard is working on a prequel to “Emilia Perez.” The film is in the very early stages of development, and no word yet on whether it will be Audiard’s next film, but the story would revolve around Emilia’s early days as a male mob boss, and her inner struggle to transition.
In “Emilia Perez,” Gascon plays the titular Mexican druglord who decides to transition into a woman, leaving her family behind and starting up a new life. The character was inspired by one chapter of french author Boris Razon's novel "Écoute" (“Listen”).
Audiard co-wrote the movie with his go-to writing partner Thomas Bidegain. French composer Clément Ducol is doing the score and famous French singer Camille, wrote all of the songs (with the help of a Mexican translator).
In my review, I wrote: “Emilia Perez” is a strange film, sometimes a silly one, that's all over the map, but despite the heightened reality and struggles to suspend disbelief, it’s very hard not to be won over by Audiard’s gonzo vision.
I’d rather Audiard continue to make original films instead of delving into prequel-dom. However, I bet that if ‘Emilia’ turns out to be a hit on Netflix, and wins Oscars, then the urge to make another film will definitely be there for all involved. That’s how it usually works.
Audiard, one of the most celebrated French filmmakers of the 21st Century, has directed notable works such as “A Prophet”, “The Beat That My Heart Skipped,” “Rust and Bone,” and “Dheepan.”