Jenna Ortega’s New Project with Leos Carax
Jenna Ortega is making a significant move into the arthouse world by collaborating with one of France’s most visionary filmmakers, Leos Carax, on his upcoming film Lily May B. Known for her intense and dark screen presence, especially after her global success in Wednesday, Ortega has become closely associated with chaos, mystery, and psychological intensity. However, the kind of darkness she will explore in Carax’s surreal cinematic universe remains a mysterious and haunting question.
As Lily May B has become one of the most talked-about projects at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, here is everything we know so far about this intriguing new film.
What is Lily May B About?
Scheduled to begin filming in Spring 2027, Lily May B marks Leos Carax’s return after Annette, the ambitious musical drama that captivated audiences at Cannes in 2021 and earned him the Best Director award. Carax, known for surreal cult classics like Holy Motors and Les Amants du Pont-Neuf, described the project as a story about “what destroyed us” and “what kept us alive.” Early visuals suggest that Lily May B could dive headfirst into the same haunting, dreamlike madness that defines Carax’s cinematic legacy.
“Once upon a time, this is what destroyed us, and this is what kept us alive,” Carax said at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival.
The film is described as a dystopian, surreal road movie following three mysterious young souls carrying painful secrets as they journey through abandoned cities, empty highways, and ancient forests in an end-of-the-world landscape. Produced by Hugo Sélignac under Chi-Fou-Mi Productions, the film is already being teased as another emotionally haunting visual spectacle from Leos Carax. Sélignac admitted that seeing Jenna Ortega in Carax’s surreal cinematic universe “feels simply natural.”
Why is Jenna Ortega’s Casting Exciting?
Lily May B will be Leos Carax’s seventh feature film and his first collaboration with Jenna Ortega, one of Hollywood’s fastest-rising stars. After the massive success of Wednesday and Beetlejuice, Ortega has become a major force in pop culture. Since becoming Wednesday Addams in 2022, she has dominated the scene, with Wednesday becoming Netflix’s most-watched English-language series. The show pulled over 252 million views and 1.72 billion hours watched within just 91 days. Following the franchise’s huge global success, Netflix has officially greenlit a third season for the 2027 slate.
However, Ortega’s dark cinematic streak is far from slowing down. She is set to appear in a massive late-2026 lineup, including the dystopian sci-fi drama Klara and the Sun alongside Amy Adams, as well as The Great Beyond from J. J. Abrams, where she stars alongside Glen Powell and Emma Mackey. Additionally, after its theatrical success, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice has also officially landed on HBO Max for streaming.
While both 2026 and 2027 are already packed with dark, dystopian worlds for Ortega, Lily May B may still be the haunting cinematic chaos fans are most eager to witness unfold.
Final Thoughts
With Leos Carax at the helm and Jenna Ortega in the lead, Lily May B promises to be a visually stunning and emotionally intense experience. Fans are eagerly awaiting more details about the film and how it will shape the careers of both the filmmaker and the actress.
