Claire Denis Moving Forward With Female Cannibal Crime Drama ‘The Soap Maker’ (EXCLUSIVE)

Claire Denis is advancing with her new film project, “The Soap Maker,” a female-led cannibal crime drama inspired by the true story of Leonarda Cianciulli, an Italian serial killer from the late 1930s and early 1940s. Cianciulli murdered three women in Correggio and notoriously used their bodies to produce soaps, candles, cookies, and cakes, which she distributed within her community. The film will be written and directed by Denis and is set to be an original work, not a remake or adaptation of previous films on the subject. The project has gained momentum following its initial presentation at the 2025 Berlin European Film Market. Producers Sacha Ben Harroche and Ivy Freeman-Attwood have joined the team, alongside lead producer Gerry Pass of Chrome Entertainment. The film will be packaged by CAA and is expected to be an English-language feature. Denis, known for her critically acclaimed films such as “Beau Travail,” “Both Sides of the Blade,” and Cannes Grand Prix winner “Stars at Noon,” is positioning “The Soap Maker” as her next major feature. Denis recently completed “The Fence,” a film set in colonial French Africa, and is currently editing a short film for the Prada-commissioned Miu Miu Women’s Tales series, which will premiere at the Venice Film Festival. Her work continues to receive recognition, including the honorary Golden Carriage award at Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight this year. “The Soap Maker” represents a continuation of Denis’ exploration of complex, often dark themes through a distinctive cinematic lens, promising a fresh take on a chilling historical narrative.