It’s been a few years since we’ve had a new Claire Denis film to get excited about. Well, good news is that production is about to begin on her next feature, tentatively titled “The Cry of the Guards.” Unfortunately, just before production was about to begin, one of the stars was replaced.
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According to Deadline, Mia McKenna-Bruce is set to replace Riley Keough as one of the leads in Claire Denis’ upcoming drama, “The Cry of the Guards.” The film is said to tell the story of a man who goes to a sub-Saharan country in Africa to insist that his brother’s body be released after an industrial accident kills him. In the film, McKenna-Bruce is expected to play a character called Leoné. Other actors involved include Matt Dillon and Isaach De Bankolé. The latter of which has been in a number of Denis productions including “No Fear, No Die,” “Chocolat,” and “White Material.”
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McKenna-Bruce had a wonderful 2024, as she starred in the acclaimed drama “How to Have Sex.” She was acknowledged by numerous awards groups for her breakthrough performance in the film. She has appeared in a number of other projects including “Vampire Academy,” “Persuasion,” and “Kindling.”
Denis’ more recent films include “Stars at Noon,” “Both Sides of the Blade,” “High Life,” and “Let the Sunshine In.” It’s unclear when we might see “The Cry of the Guards” arrive in a festival or cinemas. As mentioned, the film is set to begin principal photography in the next week, so a late-2025 release wouldn’t be out of the question.