Cannes Winner Hafsia Herzi to Star in Larrieu Brothers’ ‘La Foudre,’ Developing Leila Slimani Adaption ‘Adele’ to Direct (Exclusive)

After a whirlwind 2025, actor-director Hafsia Herzi will step before the camera in “La Foudre” (“Lightning”), the latest feature from Arnaud and Jean-Marie Larrieu, while continuing to develop the literary adaptation “Adèle” as a potential directorial outing.

Adapted from Pierric Bailly’s 2023 novel, “La Foudre” unfolds as a love triangle within the shepherding community of the Haut-Jura mountains, set in motion when a young man is accused of murder. The film marks the Larrieu brothers’ second consecutive adaptation of Bailly’s work, following “Jim’s Story,” which premiered at Cannes and earned Karim Leklou the César for best actor in 2025 — an evening that also saw Herzi take home the best actress prize for her performance in “Borgo.”

Herzi also has Léa Mysius’ “The Birthday Party” and Rudi Rosenberg’s “Quelques Mots d’Amour” set for release this year. Looking further ahead, she will return to writing with her long-gestating adaptation of Leïla Slimani…