Václav Marhoul, one of the most internationally recognized Czech filmmakers of the past two decades, is completing principal photography on his new feature film in Los Angeles this week. The project marks his first time shooting a full-length film in the United States and represents a significant shift in both setting and creative approach for the director.
Details about the film’s title and storyline remain under embargo at the request of the producers, as does most of the cast. What is known is that the production has been based entirely at Los Angeles studios, where all sets and interiors were purpose-built for the shoot. Filming began on Nov. 23 and wrapped on Dec. 19.
The film is being produced by Dallas Sonnier’s U.S.-based company Bonfire Legend, with a theatrical release planned for September 2026. The same release window is expected for the Czech Republic, where the film will be distributed by Bioscop.
A deliberate departure from Marhoul’s previous work
Marhoul described the new project as a substantial creative departure, particularly in contrast to his internationally acclaimed The Painted Bird. While that 2019 film was defined by stark imagery, minimal dialogue and expansive outdoor settings, the new feature takes an almost opposite approach.
“From a directing perspective, this film is a real challenge for me,” Marhoul said in a statement. “In terms of execution, it is the complete opposite of The Painted Bird. The emphasis here is on dialogue, and the story unfolds exclusively in interior spaces.”
He added that the film also places him in unfamiliar genre territory, something he views as an essential part of his creative process. “With each of my films, I find myself in a completely new creative space, with its own demands and risks,” he said. “That is personally enriching, but it also requires rethinking my usual methods.”
The Los Angeles shoot reflects both practical and artistic considerations. Housing the entire production in studio environments allowed for greater control over the film’s dialogue-driven structure while also aligning the project with an international production framework that differs markedly from Marhoul’s earlier European shoots.
International cast and crew bridge Hollywood and Prague
Despite the ongoing embargo, the production has confirmed the involvement of two prominent American actors: Rob Lowe and Jennifer Jason Leigh. Lowe, whose career spans more than four decades across film and television, and Leigh, an Academy Award nominee known for her work with filmmakers such as Quentin Tarantino and the Coen brothers, are the only cast members publicly named so far.
Behind the camera, the project brings together an experienced international crew. Cinematography is handled by Peter Menzies Jr., who won an Oscar for his work on Mad Max: Fury Road and is among Hollywood’s most sought-after directors of photography. Production design is led by Vincent Reynaud, with costumes by Emma Fleming. Makeup and prosthetics are overseen by Jeff Dawn, whose credits span dozens of major studio films.
While principal photography is taking place in California, a significant portion of the postproduction process will return to the Czech Republic. Editing, sound and visual postproduction are scheduled to run from January through May in Prague. Editor Luděk Hudec will cut the film, while sound postproduction will be handled by Pavel Rejholec and the Prague-based company Soundsquare.
The project is Marhoul’s fourth feature film as a director, following Smart Philip (2003), Tobruk (2008) and The Painted Bird. His earlier films earned a combined 11 Czech Lion nominations and five wins, while The Painted Bird became his most internationally visible work. The film premiered in competition at the Venice Film Festival, was shortlisted for the Academy Award for best international feature, and won nine Czech Lions, including best film and best director.
Although little has been revealed about the new film’s narrative, the scale and composition of the production underline Marhoul’s continued move toward fully international projects. With U.S.-based production, a predominantly American shoot and postproduction anchored in Prague, the film reflects an increasingly fluid relationship between Czech filmmaking and global production networks.
Lead photo: Václav Marhoul behind the scenes of the film © Bonfire Legend
