Jenna Ortega leads Leos Carax’s surreal new film ‘Lily May B’

Jenna Ortega has been cast in the lead role of Leos Carax’s upcoming film “Lily May B”, an ambitious new project backed by French producer Hugo Sélignac and set to begin filming in spring 2027.

The film, described as a dystopian and surreal road movie, marks Carax’s first collaboration with Ortega, one of Hollywood’s fastest-rising young actors following her breakout role in Wednesday and appearances in the Scream franchise. Carax, known for his visually striking and unconventional storytelling in films such as Holy Motors and Les Amants du Pont-Neuf, last directed the musical drama Annette.

According to early details shared at Cannes, “Lily May B” follows three young characters—a girl, a young woman, and a boy—who each carry a personal secret. Set in an “end-of-the-world” landscape, they travel together across abandoned cities, highways, and forests in search of identity and meaning. The journey is described as both physical and emotional, blending fantasy with existential themes.

Carax teased the project by saying, “Once upon a time, this is what destroyed us, and this is what kept us alive,” hinting at the film’s emotional and philosophical tone.

Producer Hugo Sélignac, whose credits include Beating Hearts, said working with Carax had long been a goal and praised Ortega’s casting as a natural fit for the director’s vision. He added that the film will maintain Carax’s signature blend of “raw emotion and visual power.”

Further casting announcements are expected in September, while Ortega continues to expand her film career into more experimental and auteur-driven projects alongside mainstream successes.