From Red Rooms director Pascal Plante comes King’s Daughters, described as “a historical survival drama spiced with folk-horror undertones.” Variety revealed the first image above.
Set in 1663, the film chronicles the cursed transatlantic voyage of the first group of orphan virgins sent by King Louis XIV to be married off in his faltering colony of New-France, which is the area now known as Quebec.
These exiled maidens — including the youngest, 13-year-old Catherine Moitié — undergo a horrifying crossing of 111 days, plagued by promiscuity, disease, superstitious crew, famine, vermin, apathy, and death.
Sandrine Bonnaire (Vagabond), Laurie Babin (Red Rooms), Lauréna Thellier, Zoé Adjani, and Marguerite Champoux star.
Plante co-wrote the script with Dominique Dussault, who produces for Nemesis Films (Red Rooms) along with Stephanie Morissette for La Maison de Prod and Caroline Bonmarchand of Avenue B.
WTFilms has the acquired worldwide rights to King’s Daughters, which has already been sold in France to Tandem and in Canada to Entract.
“While in the middle of filming this strange beast, it is a comfort to know that solid partners like WTFilms are already believing in us in such a way!” said Plante. “What a joy to be part of their genre-bending, eclectic, and oh-so-badass catalog!”
“As three women producers, we are proud to be part of the current wave of change that is bringing greater attention to women’s contributions to history,” added Dussault, Morissette, and Bonmarchand. “King’s Daughters’ themes of female solidarity within a story of survival, oppression, and resilience will resonate deeply with contemporary audiences. This epic tale offers viewers a glimpse into the origins of what we now call sisterhood.”
Shot over two continents, King’s Daughters started principal photography last March in Montreal, Canada, and will resume this June in St-Malo, France. It’s slated for a 2027 release.