Tessa Thompson to Lead ‘A Separation’ Film Adaptation

EXCLUSIVE: Tessa Thompson, known for her compelling performances in films like Thor: Ragnarok and Creed, has signed on to produce and star in A Separation, a feature film adaptation of Katie Kitamura’s critically acclaimed novel. The project will be helmed by Cannes award-winning director Jonas Carpignano (A Chiara, Mediterranea).

Published in 2017 by Riverhead Books, A Separation tells the story of a woman who travels to a remote peninsula in southern Greece to search for her missing husband. The novel delves into themes of intimacy, grief, and the complexities of a fractured marriage, offering a suspenseful and emotionally resonant narrative.

A Stellar Production Team

Thompson will collaborate with Riva Marker of Linden Productions, Kishori Rajan of Viva Maude, Greta Caruso, and Christos V. Konstantakopoulos of Faliro House. David Levine from Anonymous Content will serve as executive producer. This marks another collaboration between Thompson and Linden Productions, following their work on the upcoming thriller Is God Is, based on Aleshea Harris’ award-winning stage play. Linden Productions also recently partnered with Faliro House on Stereophonic, a Tony Award-winning play.

The producers shared in a joint statement: “In A Separation, Kitamura unflinchingly explores the complexities of class, race and fidelity with her trademark elegance and fearlessness. We could not be more thrilled to collaborate on such an evocative story.”

Katie Kitamura expressed her excitement, stating: “Jonas and Tessa are two of the boldest and most original artists working today. I feel very lucky to be part of this extraordinary collaboration, and to be working with such an exceptional team of producers to bring this novel onto the big screen.”

Thompson’s Recent and Upcoming Projects

Thompson recently starred in Netflix’s murder mystery His & Hers, produced by Viva Maude. The company is also producing a reimagining of Henrik Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler, titled Hedda, directed by Nia DaCosta, which earned Thompson a Golden Globe nomination. Other Viva Maude projects include an adaptation of Raven Leilani’s novel, Luster.

Carpignano’s Acclaimed Filmmography

Jonas Carpignano is celebrated for his trilogy of films – Mediterranea, A Ciambra, and A Chiara – which offer a nuanced portrayal of modern-day southern Italy through the eyes of marginalized communities. Mediterranea garnered critical acclaim at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival, and A Ciambra was Italy’s submission for Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards. A Chiara premiered at Cannes Directors’ Fortnight in 2021 and was distributed in the U.S. by Neon.

Kitamura’s latest novel, Audition, was shortlisted for the Booker Prize and is currently being adapted by Lulu Wang with Higher Ground and Laika.

Production Companies Involved

Linden Productions has a robust slate of projects in development, including adaptations of Alyssa Hill’s Zygote starring Jennifer Garner, Emma Rosenblum’s Bad Summer People with Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Jen Silverman’s adaptation of Sarah Blakely-Cartwright’s Alice Sadie Celine. Faliro House boasts a prolific filmography, including Academy Award-nominated titles like Before Midnight and The Lobster. Anonymous Content’s AC Studios has recently produced Oscar-nominated Nickel Boys and Golden Globe nominees True Detective: Night Country and Disclaimer.

Thompson is represented by CAA, Untitled Entertainment, and Jackoway Austen Tyerman; Carpignano by WME and Lichter Grossman, Nichols; and Kitamura by Trident Media Group and Anonymous Content.