The landscape of modern thriller cinema is increasingly looking toward the real-world anxieties of our changing planet, and the upcoming project Souveraines promises to be a haunting addition to the genre. According to a report from Variety, César-winning actress Nadia Tereszkiewicz is officially set to star in the feature debut of Rémi Allier, a filmmaker whose short-form work has already garnered significant international acclaim.
Tereszkiewicz, who became a household name in France and beyond following her breakout roles in François Ozon’s The Crime Is Mine and Forever Young, is moving into darker, more volatile territory with this role. Produced by Films Grand Huit, Souveraines centers on the fiercely intense relationship between a mother and her daughter. However, this isn't your typical family drama; the pair are deeply entrenched as members of a radical eco-terrorist cell, operating on the fringes of society where the stakes are quite literally life and death.
The Pedigree Behind the Project
While Souveraines marks Rémi Allier’s first foray into feature-length filmmaking, he is far from a newcomer. Allier made waves in the industry with his 2017 short film Little Hands (Les petites mains), which secured him a César Award and found its way onto the Oscar shortlist. That film showcased Allier’s unique ability to find tension and profound emotion in high-pressure environments, a skill that will be essential for a story involving domestic terrorism and environmental desperation.
By casting Tereszkiewicz, Allier has secured one of the most versatile talents of her generation. Her ability to pivot between period comedies and visceral dramas makes her the perfect anchor for a film that likely requires both emotional vulnerability and the steely resolve of a political radical. For horror and thriller fans, the inclusion of a performer of this caliber suggests that Souveraines will be looking to achieve the kind of "elevated" genre status seen in recent hits that prioritize character depth alongside suspense.
The Growing Dread of Eco-Terrorism in Cinema
In recent years, the "eco-thriller" has emerged as a subgenre that feels increasingly relevant—and increasingly terrifying. From the heist-like tension of How to Blow Up a Pipeline to the cult-like atmospheres of The East, filmmakers are tapping into the genuine existential dread surrounding climate change. Souveraines appears to be following this trend but with a specific focus on the psychological toll of radicalization within a family unit.
The "horror" in a film like this often stems from the loss of self-identity and the blurring lines between noble activism and destructive obsession. When you add a mother-daughter dynamic into the mix, the potential for psychological manipulation and trauma increases exponentially. In the world of genre cinema, the mother-daughter bond has often been used as a vessel for inherited trauma (think Hereditary or Relic). Souveraines seems poised to take that lineage and ground it in the very real, very frightening world of environmental collapse and militant response.
What to Expect from Souveraines
Though specific plot details are being kept under wraps, the description of the mother and daughter as "fiercely bonded" suggests a claustrophobic, perhaps even codependent, relationship that will be tested by their illegal activities. As they navigate the dangerous world of their cell, the external threat of the law and the internal threat of their own radical ideologies are likely to collide in spectacular fashion.
Production details are still emerging, but with the backing of Films Grand Huit—the outfit behind the Oscar-nominated Les Misérables—the film is expected to have a significant presence on the festival circuit. For those of us at ScreamDesk who love our thrillers with a side of social commentary and psychological weight, Souveraines is officially at the top of our watch list for 2026. Stay tuned as we continue to track the development of this project, including additional casting news and the eventual first look at Tereszkiewicz in what promises to be one of her most intense roles to date.