Emily Mortimer Taps Alison Oliver & Yura Borisov To Lead ‘Dennis,' Her Feature Directorial Debut For A24 & Fruit Tree
EXCLUSIVE: Alison Oliver (Saltburn) and Anora Oscar nominee Yura Borisov have signed on to star in Dennis, a romance marking the feature debut of BAFTA-nominated actress Emily Mortimer, for A24 and Fruit Tree.
Written and directed by Mortimer, the film follows a British student (Oliver) and a Russian poet (Borisov) who fall in love in 1990s Moscow.
More from Deadline
Jonathan Daviss To Star As Snoop Dogg In Universal's Craig Brewer-Directed Biopic
Teri Polo, Dylan Walsh & Jamie-Lynn Sigler To Star In Thriller 'The Man Across The Street'
Monumental Imagery, Explosive Visuals: Catch Trailer For 'Architecton' That Everyone's Watching
The project marks a reunion for A24 and Fruit Tree following their work on two Jesse Eisenberg projects: his forthcoming untitled comedy, starring Julianne Moore and Paul Giamatti, on which we were first to report, and his feature directorial debut, When You Finish Saving the World. Previously, the companies have also collaborated on Jane Schoenbrun's I Saw the TV Glow, as well as The Curse, the Showtime series from Nathan Fielder and Benny Safdie, starring Fielder and Fruit Tree's Emma Stone.
Stone, Dave McCary and Ali Herting will produce Dennis through Fruit Tree alongside Mortimer, Alessandro Nivola and Lizzie Nastro Adler for King Bee Productions. Exec producers include Joshua Horsfield for Intake, Viktória Petrányi for Proton Cinema, and Jacob Epstein for Lighthouse. A24 will finance the film and handle its worldwide release.
Perhaps best known for a striking supporting turn in Emerald Fennell's Saltburn, Oliver has subsequently reunited with the filmmaker on her Warner Bros adaptation of literary classic Wuthering Heights, which is slated for release on February 13, 2026. Also recently seen in Justin Kurzel's The Order, she'll next be seen starring alongside Mark Ruffalo in HBO's buzzy crime drama Task from Mare of Easttown's Brad Ingelsby. She's represented by Curtis Brown and CAA.
Since garnering an Oscar nomination for his turn as Igor in Sean Baker's Anora, Borisov has been tapped to star opposite Andrew Garfield and Monica Barbaro in Artificial, Luca Guadagnino's new AI-themed film for Amazon MGM Studios. He is represented by UTA, ColorCreative, and Gang Tyre Ramer.
Breaking out as a filmmaker with The Pursuit of Love, a limited series she wrote and directed for the BBC and Amazon, where she starred alongside Lily James, Andrew Scott, and Dominic West, Mortimer also co-wrote, created, starred in, and showran the HBO series Doll and Em opposite Dolly Wells. Most recently, she co-wrote Jay Kelly, Noah Baumbach's new film for Netflix, where she stars alongside Adam Sandler and George Clooney.
As an actress, Mortimer has also worked with top filmmakers including Aaron Sorkin (The Newsroom), Martin Scorsese (Shutter Island, Hugo), Woody Allen (Match Point), Rob Marshall (Mary Poppins), and Craig Gillespie (Lars and the Real Girl), among others. She is represented by UTA, Tavistock Wood, Lighthouse Management & Media, and Sloane Offer Weber & Dern.
Best of Deadline
2025-26 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Tonys, Emmys, Oscars & More
Men of Steel: Every Actor Who Has Played Superman - Photo Gallery
'Michael' Cast: Who's Who In The Michael Jackson Biopic
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
The Equity Studio Launches Platform Connecting Brands With Creative, Talent Agencies
LONDON — The Equity Studio, which invests in emerging beauty, wellness and lifestyle brands, is launching a collective of creative and talent agencies to help its portfolio companies with 'scale, storytelling and cultural impact.' The collective is known as The Studio, and is a platform for brands to connect and partner with agencies on creative content, event planning and talent sourcing. The first three agencies on board are all talent specialists: CGC Global in London, L.A.'s House of 1212 and Madrid's Untie Agency. More from WWD Iris Ventures Leads Multimillion-dollar Investment Into Fast-growing Wellness Platform Healf Burberry Showers the British Countryside With Checks in Collaboration With The Newt Farfetch Pushes Into South Korea, One of the World's Biggest Luxury Markets The plan is for The Studio to onboard more agencies with different areas of focus and expertise. While creative agencies have been broadening their offers to deliver 360-degree services to clients, it is rare to see an investor create a platform that connects brands with agencies across various markets. Anna Sweeting, founder of The Equity Studio, has always taken a holistic approach to investing. In an interview with WWD, she said 'capital is only part of the equation. True, lasting impact for brands comes from creating meaningful connections between the audiences they inspire and the wider cultural landscape.' The Studio is also a response to a changing market. Sweeting said as consumer demand grows for 'authentic advocacy, creators are no longer just amplifiers — they are embedded engines of storytelling and distribution,' which is why their work is so important to founders. She described the three agencies as an 'extraordinary group of builders and operators who embody the spirit of The Studio. This inaugural group sets the tone — but they're just the beginning.' Sweeting's investments include Gisou, Vestiaire Collective, 111Skin, Axel Arigato, Little Spoon and DeMellier. One of the newest investments is in the British brand Trip, which creates vitamin and plant-powered beverages and supplements. Trip, which was founded in 2019 by the married couple Olivia Ferdi and Daniel Khoury, is the fastest-growing U.K. beverage brand with omnichannel distribution in Europe and the U.S. She believes they have different needs, and that the agencies on the platform will help enhance their work. Sweeting said 'unlike traditional brand amplification models that rely on scheduled bursts of visibility, we ensure our brands are continuously integrated into a dynamic ecosystem. At The Equity Studio, amplification isn't a switch that's turned on and off; it's an always-on presence, seamlessly woven into the lives, platforms, and authentic stories of today's influential voices.' Trip and the other Equity Studio investments will immediately be able to tap into the three agencies, and the others that eventually join The Studio platform. House of 1212 specializes in talent representation, strategic brand partnerships, and brand expansion. Its cofounders include Jay Shetty; Rula Zaabri, chief executive officer, and Blaire Zierke, who is head of operations. 'At House of 1212, our purpose-driven philosophy is rooted in authenticity and strategic collaboration — an approach that aligns seamlessly with The Studio's 'always on' model, transforming ideas into lasting connection and impact,' said the team. CGC is a global communications and talent agency that represents beauty and wellness brands. Founded and led by Clare Goodwin, the portfolio includes Augustinus Bader, Westman Atelier, Glossier, Victoria Beckham Beauty and Diptyque. The CGC talent collective also includes beauty and wellness figures such as Bryony Deery, Hadda Akrim, Rose Ferguson and Wendy Rowe. Untie is a talent agency based in Madrid that represents leading European influencers and personalities. Founded and run by Beatriz Villarroya, it is focused on supporting talent through partnerships, and also providing platform capabilities to support them in developing their own brands, operations and go-to-market strategies. Best of WWD The Definitive Timeline for Sean 'Diddy' Combs' Sean John Fashion Brand: Lawsuits, Runway Shows and Who Owns It Now What the Highest-paid CEOs at U.S. Fashion and Retail Companies Make Confidence Holds Up, But How Much Can Consumers Take? Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Liberty Names Beverley Devonish Store Director of London Flagship
LONDON — Liberty, which is marking 150 years in business, has named retail veteran Beverley Devonish store director of its Regent Street flagship. Devonish will be in charge of customer service, the in-store experience, and Liberty's 'commercial and cultural vision.' She will report to Liberty's managing director Sarah Coonan. More from WWD Alexa Chung, Mia Regan, Liberty Joy Trailblazer Bold Looks at Royal Academy of Arts Summer Party The Equity Studio Launches Platform Connecting Brands With Creative, Talent Agencies Burberry Showers the British Countryside With Checks in Collaboration With The Newt She has more than two decades of experience in retail, having held senior leadership roles at Harvey Nichols, Selfridges, and Dover Street Market. Liberty said her specialty is strategic transformation, cultivating creative talent, and redefining the in-store experience through immersive brand environments. 'Having spent the last year and a half developing my own creative practice, I'm thrilled to join Liberty, a brand that has long stood at the intersection of art, culture and retail innovation,' Devonish said. 'With its rich heritage and commitment to creativity, Liberty offers an incredible platform to continue shaping meaningful, client-focused experiences that celebrate individuality and craftsmanship,' she added. The store said that as a key member of the senior retail leadership team, Devonish 'will play an instrumental role in guiding strategy, fostering collaboration across departments, and upholding Liberty's legacy of excellence in visual presentation, brand storytelling, and service.' As reported, the store has been marking its anniversary with a focus on design, nature and art, with exhibitions, installations, exclusive products, and collaborations with museums, artists and design institutions. At the heart of the anniversary celebrations is the exhibition 'I Am. We Are. Liberty,' which offers visitors a glimpse into the Liberty print archive, a resource for fashion and interior designers throughout history. The exhibition is running now and will sail to Japan in August for the Expo 2025 in Osaka. Last month it unveiled The Patchwork Collective, a quilted house made from 1,500 patchwork squares. People and brands who contributed squares included Jil Sander, Paul Smith, La DoubleJ, Barbour, and Levi's. Earlier this year the store worked with the stylist and editor Leith Clark to curate a series of pieces from brands including Fornasetti, Diptyque, Max Mara, Erdem and La DoubleJ. There were also exclusive pieces from Cece Jewellery, Foundrae and Liberty Interiors. Best of WWD EXCLUSIVE: Maje Names Charlotte Tasset Ferrec CEO Nadja Swarovski Exits Family Company Amid Ongoing Corporate Shakeup Aeffe MD Exits Fashion Group
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Harvey Weinstein juror refuses to rejoin deliberations causing rape charge mistrial
The judge in the Harvey Weinstein sex crimes retrial declared a mistrial on the outstanding rape charge against the producer on Thursday, after the jury foreman refused to return to deliberate the count amid a jury room feud. 'Deliberations became heated to such a degree I am obligated to declare a mistrial on the one count on which you didn't reach a verdict,' Judge Curtis Farber told the jury panel. On Wednesday, Weinstein was convicted on one count of sexual assault by a Manhattan jury but was found not guilty of assaulting a second woman. Weinstein was found guilty of sexually assaulting Miriam Haley, and not guilty of sexually assaulting Kaja Sokola. Weinstein faces up to 25 years in prison when he is sentenced. He has separately been sentenced to 16 years in prison following a rape conviction in California. The jury reached its verdict one year after the disgraced Hollywood titan's conviction was overturned. After the verdict was handed down, the judge said the jury would continue to deliberate on the third-degree rape charge, a highly unusual move according to legal experts. Before the jury announced its verdict on Wednesday, Justice Curtis Farber met privately with one person on the 12-member jury referred to as Juror One. The judge then stated in open court that there had been 'fighting' in the jury room. 'Juror One has made it very clear that he is not going to change his position,' Judge Farber said, adding that Juror One did not tell him what his position was. 'He indicated that at least one other juror made comments to the juror that, 'I'll meet you outside one day', and there's yelling and screaming.' Judge Farber sent jurors home for the day to give them time to cool down and instructed the foreman to arrive in court separately on Thursday. In closing arguments on June 3, the prosecution told the 12 jurors that the evidence showed how Weinstein used his power and influence to trap and abuse women. The defence countered that the accusers lied on the witness stand out of spite after their consensual sexual encounters with the Oscar-winning producer failed to result in Hollywood stardom. Weinstein, who has had a litany of health problems in recent years and attended the retrial in a wheelchair, has remained behind bars because of his California conviction. He is appealing that verdict. More than 100 women, including famous actresses, have accused Weinstein of misconduct. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
