EXCLUSIVE: Lili Reinhart, Riverdale and Forbidden Fruits star, has joined Oscar winner Melissa Leo (The Fighter) in thriller The Mannequin, the next film from Dangerous Animals director Sean Byrne.

Heralding from Studiocanal’s genre label Sixth Dimension, and due into production this summer, plot details have largely been kept under wraps. However, we know the movie is largely a two-hander and Byrne has described it as a “twisted, intense, and propulsive serial killer procedural”.

Studiocanal is handling worldwide sales at the Cannes market and will release theatrically in their own territories of the UK, France, Germany, Benelux, Poland, Australia and New Zealand. Elevation Pictures has taken Canada.

Written and directed by Byrne, whose last film launched at Cannes in Directors’ Fortnight and was picked up by IFC Films, the movie is being produced by William Woods, Maddy Falle for Page 12 Pictures Inc. and Kristian Moliere for Triptych Pictures.

Executive producers are Steven Schneider, Phil Hunt, Compton Ross, Charlie Kemball and Jed Benedict for Sixth Dimension, Lili Reinhart and Catherine Hagedorn of Small Victory Productions, and Melissa Leo. Head Gear Films packaged the project with Steven Schneider’s Room 101.

Sean Byrne commented “Lili has such a grounded, authentic screen presence that’s a captivating mixture of vulnerability, independence, intelligence, and courage. I honestly can’t think of a more committed and immersive screen pairing than Lili and the equally fearless Melissa Leo to take on a serial killer like no other.”

Reinhart was recently nominated for a 2026 Gotham TV Award for “Outstanding Lead Performance in a Limited or Anthology Series” for her performance in Cooper Raiff’s Hal & Harper, opposite Raiff and Mark Ruffalo, which she also executive produced. She will next be seen in Amazon MGM’s The Love Hypothesis opposite Tom Bateman, and will star in Tony-winner Brian Swibel’s directorial debut, The Very Best People.

Reinhart is represented by UTA, Anonymous Content, and Peikoff Mahan.