In recent years, rising French thespian Lea Seydoux has intermittently been crossing the Atlantic for Hollywood film roles, making appearances in "Inglourious Basterds,"Robin Hood," "Mission Impossible – Ghost Protocol" and "Midnight In Paris." And while those films have only seen her play smaller supporting or cameo roles, it's certainly brought attention to many of her films back in Europe including recent Berlin-opener "Farewell, My Queen" opposite Diane Kruger.
On the back of all that success, Seydoux has now joined Abdellatif Kechiche's "Blue Is A Hot Color," an adaptation of Julie Maroh's relationship-drama graphic novel "Blue" which will see her star opposite fellow up-and-comer Adèle Exarchopoulos for the story of a teenage girl who unexpectedly falls in love with another woman and faces her parents' and friends' judgment.
While this dramedy could come off badly in the wrong hands, it'll be fascinating to see how this story plays out with Kechiche at the helm. He is no stranger to controversy with his last effort, "Black Venus," exploring African slavery in Europe. He also directed the heralded drama "The Secret Of The Grain," which won the which won the 2007 César Award for Best Film in France. a special jury prize in Venice that year and made several top 10 lists that year include the New York Times' A.O. Scott who named it the third best of the year. It's been Criterion-approved too and needless to say you should seek it out.
When we spoke with Seydoux in Berlin, she teased that she might not be starring in Michel Gondry's "Mood Indigo" (aka "The Foam Of Days") as previously reported, as she might have another project get in the way. Could this be it? In recent weeks she has also booked "Grand Central" with Tahar Rahim and "Beauty & The Beast" with Vincent Cassel so her calendar is certainly filling up.
No word on when lensing for 'Blue' is slated to get underway but the film will be backed by Quat'sous Films, Scope Pictures and Vertigo Films with Wild Bunch also on board.