EXCLUSIVE: Here’s some fun casting. The Naked Gun star Pamela Anderson is teaming up with pop icon Debbie Harry on comedy Maitreya, which is launching at the Cannes market.
Sound Of Metal outfit Caviar is behind the movie, which will follow “Maitreya (Anderson), a rising star in the New Age Healing community who is about to head off to a conference in India when she receives a call from her estranged sister, Monica: their father is dying. Rather than stay home with him, Maitreya decides to bring her entire family – including her mother Barbara (Harry) – to the conference and put her New Age healing theories to the test (all while surreptitiously gathering material for her next book).”
Emmy-nominee Jonathan Krisel (Portlandia) will direct from a script by BAFTA-nominee Samuel D. Hunter (The Whale). Producers for Caviar are Bert Hamelinck, Michael Sagol and Allison Hironaka, along with Danica Radovanov.
Nadine de Barros’ Fortitude International is launching international sales at Cannes, with CAA Media Finance and UTA Independent Film Group handling North America. Shooting is scheduled to begin at the end of 2026.
Anderson’s career renaissance continues after she received SAG and Golden Globe award nominations for Gia Coppola’s Cannes title The Last Showgirl. Her packed upcoming slate includes Karim Aïnouz’s Rosebush Pruning alongside Riley Keough, Callum Turner, Elle Fanning, and Jamie Bell; Somedays, opposite Billy Bob Thornton; Kornel Mondruczo’s Place To Be with Taika Waititi; and Michael Cera’s directorial debut with Steeve Coogan and Jamie Dornan.
Blondie frontwoman and Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall of Famer Harry is known for screen performances in movies including David Cronenberg’s Videodrome and John Waters’ Hairspray.
Michael Sagol, producer and Managing Director at Caviar, said: “Being a part of bringing Maitreya to life with Jon and Sam has been so much fun already. After working together in the branded world for the past decade, now having the chance to produce Jon’s first feature film – a soulful exploration of a dysfunctional family, perfectly suited to his absurdist and distinctive comedic voice – makes us giddy with excitement!”
Pamela Anderson is repped by CAA and Hansen Jacobson. Debbie Harry is repped by Untitled Entertainment and Umbrella Group Artist Management. Jonathan Krisel is represented by Caviar for commercials and UTA. Samuel D. Hunter is repped by WME and Untitled Entertainment.
