If you were wondering about the status of Parker Finn’s “Possession” remake, we have a major update. We have our two leads. Sources tell Nexus Point News that Callum Turner and Margaret Qualley will star in “Possession” as the married couple.
Qualley is best known for her role in “The Substance.” She recently starred in “Drive Away Dolls” and “Honey Don’t!” for Ethan Coen, as well as “Blue Moon” for Richard Linklater. Meanwhile, Turner most recently starred in A24’s “Eternity.” He’s best known for his roles in “The Fantastic Beasts” franchise, “Green Room,” and the incessant Bond rumors that have surrounded him over the past year.
Back in July 2024, a bidding war occurred over this project between numerous studios, including A24, Netflix, Warner Bros., Sony, and Paramount—the latter ultimately won out. Now, even under the ownership of David Ellison, it seems like this one is still happening.
All I can say is, best of luck to Qualley, an actress I like, who will take on the role originally—and brilliantly—played by Isabelle Adjani. She was an on-screen FORCE in “Possession.” It’s one of the best female performances I’ve ever seen.
Set in West Berlin, “Possession” stars Sam Neill as a spy who returns home to his wife (Adjani), only to learn that she’s having an affair. She asks for a divorce; he hires a private investigator, and that leads the story into a nightmarish descent into utter, surreal hell.
This was Żuławski’s grueling meditation on marriage, written as a reaction to his own, which was also in its final days. “Possession” received very mixed reviews upon release but has since been reappraised as a classic—and for good reason. You’ve never seen a film quite like this one.
Finn’s surprise horror hit was 2022’s “Smile,” and it really came out of nowhere. It was his feature-length debut and grossed $217M worldwide on a skimpy $17M budget. Critical response was fairly positive as well, but the sequel (“Smile 2”) was much better and much riskier—a film that got me excited for whatever he does next. Turns out, it’ll be “Possession.”