Sandra Oh, known for her sharp turns in Killing Eve and The Sympathizer, is set to headline Child’s Play, a newly announced psychological thriller from acclaimed Chinese independent filmmaker Wang Xiaoshuai. Bankside Films has jumped on board to handle sales for the project, which is slated to begin production this September in Toronto and North Bay, Ontario.
Child’s Play is being pitched as a haunting psychological thriller about guilt and redemption. The screenplay comes from Canadian playwright Hannah Moscovitch, whose work includes Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes. It draws its source material from a short story penned by the celebrated Alice Munro.
The film’s story centers on Marlene Lee, the daughter of Chinese immigrants, as she navigates an all-white summer camp for girls in 1983. In an attempt to fit in with her new friend Charlene, Marlene takes a step that will irrevocably alter the course of her life.
Fast forward to 2024, and we find an adult Marlene deeply entrenched in a successful political career, striving for meaningful societal change. However, as she teeters on the edge of a significant electoral win, the murky shadows of her past creep back into focus when she and Charlene are compelled to reconnect.
Child’s Play boasts a solid production team, including Niv Fichman of Rhombus Media (known for The Sympathizer and BlackBerry), Mike Goodridge of Good Chaos (Triangle of Sadness, Sisu), and Liu Xuan of Dong Chun (Shanghai) Films (So Long, My Son). Stephen Kelliher of Bankside Films will serve as executive producer, with Elevation Pictures handling the Canadian release.
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Kelliher expressed enthusiasm for the project, stating, “We were immediately captivated by this incredible screenplay and are delighted to be working with a director whose work we have long admired. Together with the outstanding Sandra Oh, this will be a film that audiences worldwide will enjoy.”
Wang Xiaoshuai is a significant figure in Chinese independent cinema, with his films having screened at major international film festivals like Cannes, Berlinale, and Venice. His 2019 film So Long, My Son garnered Silver Bears for Best Actor and Best Actress at Berlinale, and his more recent work, Above The Dust, was featured at the 2024 Berlin International Film Festival.
His filmography also includes titles like Beijing Bicycle and Shanghai Dreams. With Child’s Play, he steps into the realm of psychological thriller, promising a potentially compelling exploration of past actions and their lingering consequences.
