Lionsgate Acquires Alma Har'el's 'Wet' with Bardem, Ferguson and Rosalia

Lionsgate has acquired North America and UK distribution rights to "Wet," the next film from director Alma Har'el, starring Javier Bardem, Rebecca Ferguson, Rosalia, Connor Storrie, Odessa A'Zion and Lukas Haas. Production begins in 2027. Lionsgate took the rights from Fifth Season and 193, A Legendary Company. No plot details have been released.

The deal lands one of the more distinctive directorial voices in American independent film at a major studio. Har'el directed "Honey Boy," "LoveTrue," "Shadow Kingdom" and "Bombay Beach," and earned two Film Independent Spirit Award nominations — best director for "Honey Boy" and another for "Bombay Beach." With "Honey Boy," she became the first woman to win the Directors Guild Award for first-time feature film. In 2024 she created, executive produced and directed the Apple TV+ limited series "Lady in the Lake," led by Natalie Portman and Lupita Nyong'o.

Who is making 'Wet'?

Har'el co-wrote the screenplay with Christian Stangeby, whose previous credits include editing and work on short films and TV series such as "Ex on the Beach Norge" and "Hotellet."

The producing team:

• Fifth Season and 193
• Har'el herself
• Christopher Leggett and Riva Marker for Linden Entertainment

Executive producers include Fifth Season's Christopher Slager and Graham Taylor, along with Patrick Wachsberger and Ashley Stern for 193. Ferguson is repped by Anonymous and WME.

What did the buyers and the director say?

"The script and package for 'Wet' are undeniable," said Adam Fogelson, chair of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group. "With Alma at the helm, we cannot wait to get in the water with this unbelievably talented group of people, both in front of and behind the camera."

Har'el framed the project against the current moment. "Lately, I've had to find humor in chaos and humanity in the most unpredictable situations," she said. "I'm grateful to Lionsgate for embracing a film that speaks to this wild moment in time. I'm incredibly excited to bring this remarkable group of actors together and make a film that refuses to behave."

Who is steering the project?

Scott O'Brien and MaryGrace Stephenson are overseeing the film for Lionsgate. Jordan Backhus oversees creative for Fifth Season. Christopher Davis and Lauren Bixby negotiated the deal on behalf of the studio, while WME Independent, 193 and BALA negotiated on behalf of the filmmakers.

The takeaway: Lionsgate has locked up a star-driven ensemble film from a DGA Award-winning director two years before cameras roll, betting early on a package whose plot remains under wraps.