Renée Zellweger has been cast as the lead in the psychological thriller “Phantom Sun,” directed by David Yates and based on an original screenplay by Ian Scott McCuller. Stuart Ford’s AGC Studios fully financed and co-produced the film.
The project was conceived and developed by Zellweger and Carmella Casinelli under the Big Picture Co. banner, and continued co-development with Yates at the helm, before ultimately partnering with AGC Studios to finance and co-produce.
“‘Phantom Sun’ is a rare find that promises to connect on a far-reaching scale with the kind of rich, character-driven storytelling we love, and we’re thrilled to be taking shape with such an extraordinary team. With David at the helm and AGC as a partner, we’re poised to deliver something truly special,” said Zellweger and Casinelli.
AGC International Airport and CAA Media Finance are jointly representing worldwide rights, which will begin sales at American Film Market next week. Additional casting is underway for a Q1 2026 launch.
The film tells the story of Ronnie, a young runaway struggling to survive on the streets, who is taken in by Audrey (Zellweger), a lonely woman whose son was kidnapped 20 years earlier. A cat-and-mouse game unfolds, blurring the lines between deception and delusion, as Audrey becomes convinced that Ronnie is actually her estranged son.
After directing The Girl in the Café, Yates directed the final four Harry Potter films, concluding the series with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2. He went on to direct The Legend of Tarzan and the Fantastic Beasts trilogy, followed by Netflix’s Pain Hustlers. He has won the John Schlesinger Britannia British Academy Award for Excellence in Director and has been awarded an Honorary Fellowship from the National Film and Television School for outstanding contributions to the British film and television industry.
Scott McCullough was executive story editor on AppleTV’s The Mosquito Coast and writer on the Sky/Fremantle series The Iris Affair.
Mr. Zellweger is represented by CAA. Mr. Yates is represented by Casarot Ramsey & Associates, CAA and Gretchen Rush. Scott McCullough is represented by Independent Artist Group and Heroes & Villians. Ananth Tamiritha negotiated on behalf of AGC Studios.
