Academy Award winner Melissa Leo will star in director Sean Byrne's film "The Mannequin." The film will be produced under Studiocanal's Sixth Dimension label, which focuses on new genre productions. Byrne will direct from his own screenplay, and the project, described as a "serial killer operation," is set to begin production this summer. The film is characterized as an "original, violent, and destructive high-risk thriller."

Byrne, known for works like "The Devil's Candy" (starring Ethan Embry) and "Dangerous Animals" (starring Jai Courtney), expressed his excitement in a statement, saying, "After spending time swimming in blood in Dangerous Animals, I’m thrilled to be alongside Studiocanal's Sixth Dimension team. I can't wait to bring The Mannequin to the big screen. There have been other serial killer operation films, but this one is an exciting creature of its own — twisted, intense, pushing forward to an unpredictable, shocking conclusion anchored by Melissa Leo's bold performance."

Jed Benedict, head of Studiocanal's genre productions division, stated, "There’s a good reason for the nostalgia for the best serial killer films of the 2000s; they are not only terrifying and thrilling but also meticulously written. In The Mannequin, Sean Byrne has gifted us two unforgettable characters in Charley and Sadie, throwing them into a rapidly escalating nightmare."

Melissa Leo won an Oscar for her role alongside Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, and Amy Adams in David O. Russell's "The Fighter." She has previously appeared in "Frozen River," "Prisoners," "Conviction," "I Know This Much Is True," and the "The Equalizer" series. Studiocanal will launch worldwide sales this week at Cannes and is preparing to release the film in the UK, France, Germany, Benelux, Poland, Australia, and New Zealand. Elevation Pictures will distribute the film in Canada.