Gillian Anderson and Rebecca Hall to Star in The Portrait

BAFTA and Golden Globe nominees Gillian Anderson and Rebecca Hall have signed on to star in the psychological thriller The Portrait, directed by Sara Colangelo. Unveiled ahead of the American Film Market in November 2026, the adaptation of Ilaria Bernardini's novel centres on a high-stakes confrontation between a dying businessman's long-term lover and his artist wife. For Malaysian audiences following prestigious European and British cinema, the project brings together prominent international talent from acclaimed dramas such as The Crown and The Kindergarten Teacher, although Malaysian cinema release and local streaming availability remain unconfirmed.

Key Facts

Production on The Portrait is scheduled to begin in the United Kingdom during the first quarter of 2027 under writer-director Sara Colangelo. The project brings together European production companies Pie Films and The Apartment, with global distribution rights launching at the American Film Market ahead of principal photography.

What Is the Plot of The Portrait?

The Portrait centres on Valeria, an acclaimed writer who discovers her wealthy, long-time secret lover Martín is terminally ill and cut off from her. Desperate to reach him, she commissions his painter wife, Isla, to paint her portrait, covertly infiltrating his household. Gillian Anderson stars as Valeria opposite Rebecca Hall as Isla in the London-set psychological thriller.

The script is adapted from the novel by Ilaria Bernardini, creating what producers describe as a deceptive pas de deux inside the family's grand townhouse. Director Sara Colangelo stated that the narrative extends her artistic exploration of moral ambiguity, female transgression, and subversive power dynamics, framed as a suspenseful drama of rivalry and hidden motives.

Who Is Producing and Distributing The Portrait?

Director Sara Colangelo is writing and helming The Portrait, which begins filming in the United Kingdom during the first quarter of 2027. Pie Films producers Talia Kleinhendler and Osnat Handelsman Keren are producing the feature alongside Francesca Cualbu of Italian production banner The Apartment.

WME Independent represents domestic sales, while Rocket Science is handling international rights at the American Film Market in November 2026. The project reunites Colangelo with Pie Films after their 2018 Sundance feature The Kindergarten Teacher, which won the Directing Award before streaming on Netflix alongside her 2020 drama Worth.

What It Means for Viewers in Malaysia

Malaysian theatrical release dates, local cinema distribution, and streaming availability for The Portrait have not been confirmed by international sales agent Rocket Science or the producers. Distribution deals across Southeast Asian territories are typically negotiated during or following sales events like the American Film Market before release windows are finalised.

With filming slated for early 2027, the film has not yet been reviewed or classified by the Film Censorship Board of Malaysia (LPF). Local cinema chains including Golden Screen Cinemas (GSC), TGV Cinemas, and MBO Cinemas have made no announcements regarding a theatrical run, and no streaming platforms in Malaysia have acquired rights.

Common Questions

Who is directing and starring in The Portrait?

Writer-director Sara Colangelo directs the psychological thriller, which stars BAFTA and Golden Globe nominees Gillian Anderson and Rebecca Hall. Anderson portrays Valeria, an acclaimed writer, while Hall plays Isla, an artist married to Valeria's secret lover Martín, setting up an intense dramatic confrontation in London.

When does production on The Portrait begin?

Principal photography for the feature is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2027, with filming taking place in the United Kingdom. Sales representatives WME Independent and Rocket Science are currently presenting the project to buyers at the American Film Market in November 2026.

Is The Portrait based on a book?

The film is adapted from the novel by Italian author Ilaria Bernardini. Director Sara Colangelo adapted the text into a screenplay focused on moral ambiguity and female rivalry, with production overseen by European companies Pie Films and The Apartment ahead of its planned 2027 shoot.

Sources and Methodology

Information in this news dispatch is sourced directly from reporting by Andreas Wiseman for Deadline Hollywood, published on 4 November 2026. Production and sales details were verified against American Film Market trade announcements; because no production budget or commercial figures were reported, no currency conversions to Malaysian ringgit were calculated.