Wild Bunch and Gaumant have released a new The Neon Demon image. The creepy, cool premise revolves around an aspiring model (Elle Fanning) moving to Los Angeles where “her youth and vitality are devoured by a group of beauty-obsessed women who will take any means necessary to get what she has.” However, judging by this image, it looks like she’s not the one who’s doing the bleeding, so those beauty-obsessed women might have their women cut out for them.

But the larger question is whether director Nicolas Winding Refn will bounce back with this one. He seemed to be edging a little more mainstream with Drive, but his follow-up, Only God Forgives, was highly divisive. He’s an unpredictable filmmaker, and I find that incredibly exciting.


I also like that Amazon is backing the film. The studio has announced that they’ve picked up the U.S. distribution rights with a plan to release the next summer. I wouldn’t be surprised if it premieres at Cannes before the release date.

Check out the full image below. The film also stars Keanu Reeves, Christina Hendricks, Jena Malone, Abbey Lee, and Bella Heathcote.

neon-demon-elle-fanning-1
Image via Gaumont and Wild Bunch

Here's the press release:

GAUMONT & WILD BUNCH encounter THE NEON DEMON …with

AMAZON STUDIOS in the US

AMAZON STUDIOS has acquired Nicolas Winding Refn's anticipated THE NEON DEMON and will release it theatrically Stateside next summer.

 

"The Neon Demon" is being jointly handled by Gaumont and Wild Bunch, who previously joined forces on Refn's last film "Only God Forgives," which competed at Cannes Film Festival in 2013. Gaumont and Wild Bunch co-financed and will co-distribute "The Neon Demon."


"The Neon Demon" centers on an aspiring model who moves to Los Angeles where her youth and vitality are devoured by a group of beauty-obsessed women who will go to any lengths to get what she has.

 

Co-written by Mary Laws and Refn, "The Neon Demon" stars Elle Fanning, Keanu Reeves, Christina Hendricks and Jena Malone, Abbey Lee, Bela Heathcoat.

 

Speaking about the genesis of the film, Refn said, “One morning I woke and realized I was both surrounded and dominated by women. Strangely, a sudden urge was planted in me to make a horror film about vicious beauty.

 

After making DRIVE and falling madly in love with the electricity of Los Angeles, I knew I had to return to tell the story of THE NEON DEMON.”

 

Refn’s partner, Lene Borglum ("Valhalla Rising," "Only God Forgives") produced under their Danish banner Space Rocket.

 

Refn won best director at Cannes in 2011 with Ryan-Gosling starrer "Drive" which has become a near-cult movie and a major critical success.

 

"The Neon Demon" brings together Refn's regular creative team: Editor Matthew Newman and composer Cliff Martinez. “The Grandmaster”‘s cinematographer Philippe Le Sourd completes the key crew .

 

The deal was negotiated by Gaumont ‘s Cecile Gaget and WildBunch ‘s Vincent Maraval/Carole Baraton on behalf of the director.

 


Amazon Studios was launched in June to acquire original movies for theatrical release and early-window distribution on Amazon Prime Instant Video. "The Neon Demon" is one of the first acquisitions scored by the banner. Their first release will be Spike Lee 's pic next month.