Hollywood’s favorite genius-turned-icon Jodie Foster is trading FBI badges for baguettes in her latest role — and it’s giving us major Natalie Portman-in-“Leon” vibes. Deadline can exclusively share the first details about Vie Privée (translation: Private Life), a French-language murder mystery that’s already breaking records in Europe and marks Foster’s first French film since 2005’s A Very Long Engagement. Let’s just say the hype is très real.
Foster, 61, isn’t just fluent in French — she’s a full-on Francophile. Before Vie Privée, she starred in 1977’s Moi, fleur bleue and A Very Long Engagement (2005), proving she can slay accents and action scenes. Now, two decades later, she’s diving into a dark, twisty role as psychiatrist Lilian Steiner, who goes full Mindhunter to prove her patient’s death was no accident. “Oui,” we’re obsessed already.
Foster isn’t flying solo. The film’s stacked with France’s A-list: Daniel Auteuil (Farewell, Mr. Haffman), Virginie Efira (Venice darling Other People’s Children), and Portrait of a Lady on Fire’s Luana Bajrami. Think of it as Knives Out meets Emily in Paris — minus the berets, plus more suspense.
The film hasn’t even finished post-production, but distributors are snapping it up like croissants at a bakery. It’s already sold out across Europe (UK, Spain, Germany, Italy — ciao!), with Australia, New Zealand, and Israel on board. North America? Let’s just say “négociations en cours” (translation: Netflix, Hulu — we see you 👀).
French Twitter (X, whatever) is already stanning. One user posted, “Jodie Foster parle français mieux que moi… respect” (“Jodie speaks French better than me… respect”), while film buffs are dubbing this “le comeback du siècle.” Stateside fans are equally hyped: “Jodie doing a French thriller? I’ll watch her read a phone book, TBH,” tweeted @CinemaStan93.
- Foster learned French as a teen while living with her mom in Paris. Très chic!
- Director Rebecca Zlotowski’s last film, Other People’s Children, was a Venice Film Festival darling. Expect all the award-season whispers.
- Shooting locations included Paris and Normandy — so prepare for Emily in Paris-level scenery (but darker, obvi).
Are you ready to see Jodie Foster slay in French again? Could this be her next Oscar play? Sound off in the comments — and oui, subtitles are allowed.
