Melissa Leo leads serial killer drama 'The Mannequin' by 'Dangerous Animals' director Sean Byrne

Melissa Leo, who won an Oscar for her role in “The Fighter,” is set to feature in “The Mannequin,” a crime thriller by Sean Byrne, the visionary creator of “Dangerous Animals.”

Studiocanal’s new genre division, Sixth Dimension, is supporting the movie and will kick off global sales at Cannes. The film will be released in the UK, France, Germany, Benelux, Poland, Australia, and New Zealand. 

Elevation Pictures will manage its release in Canada. The production, led by Byrne as writer and director, is slated to start this summer.

Among Leo’s film credits are “Prisoners” and “Frozen River,” the latter earning her an Oscar nod for best actress. 

She has also acted in “London Has Fallen,” “Flight,” and “Conviction.” Byrne’s action-packed thriller, “Dangerous Animals,” involving a psychotic villain and sharks, made over $9 million globally with a modest $2 million budget. His other notable works include “The Loved Ones” and “The Devil’s Candy.”

“Having navigated the bloody waters of ‘Dangerous Animals’ with my companions at Studiocanal’s Sixth Dimension, I’m eager to bring ‘The Mannequin’ to the cinematic world,” Byrne expressed. 

“While many serial killer stories exist, this one is uniquely twisted, exhilarating, and intense, featuring a bold performance by Melissa Leo that leads to an unexpected finale. It promises to grip audiences from start to finish.”

“The Mannequin” is being produced by William Woods, Maddy Falle for Page 12 Pictures Inc., and Kristian Moliere for Triptych Pictures.

The executive producers include Steven Schneider, Phil Hunt, Compton Ross, Charlie Kemball, and Jed Benedict for Studiocanal’s Sixth Dimension. The project is packaged by Head Gear Films alongside Steven Schneider’s Room 101.