Somto BisinaIn a major acquisition at the Cannes Film Festival, Netflix has landed the North American rights for the highly anticipated romantic-drama “May December.”
Directed by the acclaimed Todd Haynes and featuring an all-star cast including Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore, the film has already created significant buzz among critics and audiences alike.
The streaming giant secured the rights for an impressive $11 million, making it the first major sale of this year’s festival.
Netflix faced stiff competition from several bidders, including Neon, but ultimately emerged victorious, aiming to position “May December” as a strong contender for the upcoming Oscar season.
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The film’s intriguing storyline and powerful performances have already captured attention, making it a promising prospect for award recognition.
At the heart of “May December” is a scandalous age-gap relationship that unfolds on screen. Premiering to critical acclaim, the film received a six-minute standing ovation at its Cannes debut. Julianne Moore portrays the older partner, referred to as the “December,” while Charles Melton takes on the role of the much younger lover, known as the “May.”
Their relationship began when Melton’s character was just 13, leading to a tabloid scandal due to their substantial 20-year age difference. Decades later, the couple’s bond is put to the test when an actress played by Natalie Portman embarks on a journey to study Moore’s character for a film role.
During the film’s press conference, Moore addressed the sensitive nature of the age-gap relationship portrayed in “May December,” stating, “An age gap is one thing, but a relationship between an adult and a child is a different thing entirely.
The reason why this movie feels so dangerous watching it is because people don’t know where anyone’s boundaries are. It feels scary.”
The screenplay for “May December” was written by Samy Burch, based on a story she co-wrote with Alex Mechanik. The film was produced by Jessica Elbaum and Will Ferrell of Gloria Sanchez Productions, Christine Vachon and Pam Koffler of Killer Films, and Natalie Portman and Sophie Mas of MountainA.
In the United States, CAA Media Finance and UTA Independent Film Group represented the rights for “May December,” while Rocket Science handled international sales.
Todd Haynes, known for his acclaimed works such as “Far From Heaven,” “Carol,” and “I’m Not There,” brings his distinct vision and storytelling prowess to this latest project. The director has a strong history with Cannes, having previously premiered films like “Velvet Goldmine,” “Carol,” and “Wonderstruck” at the prestigious festival.
With Netflix’s acquisition of “May December,” audiences can anticipate an emotionally charged and thought-provoking cinematic experience.
As the film sets its sights on the upcoming awards season, the collaboration between renowned talents like Haynes, Portman, and Moore is sure to captivate viewers and stir discussions about love, boundaries, and the complexities of relationships.
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