Cannes: Anne Hathaway to Star in 'Colossal' (Exclusive)

From Voltage Pictures, the movie is described as 'Godzilla' meets 'Lost in Translation.'

Anne Hathaway is set to star in Colossal, a project that's sure to be one of the biggest curiosity factors at this year's Cannes film market. Nacho Vigalondo (Timecrimes) is writing and directing for Voltage Pictures.

In the movie — described as Transformers versus Adaptation and Godzilla meets Being John Malkovich; Hathaway will play Gloria, an ordinary woman who, after losing her job and her fiancé, decides to leave her life in New York to move back to her hometown.

But when news reports surface that a giant lizard is destroying the city of Tokyo, Gloria gradually comes to realize that she is strangely connected to these far-off events via the power of her mind. In order to prevent further destruction, Gloria needs to determine why her seemingly insignificant existence has such a colossal effect on the fate of the world.

Voltage Pictures is fully financing Colossal and will launch the project to foreign buyers in Cannes. CAA, which is representing domestic rights, packaged the movie and arranged financing in addition to representing Hathaway, Vigalondo and producer Nahikari Ipiña. Ipiña is producing via her Sayaka Producciones. Garrett Basch and Vigalondo, who was nominated for an Oscar for his short film, 7:35 in the Morning, are executive producing.

"Colossal is my most ambitious script so far, and probably also the most personal one. Having Anne and this terrific team around goes beyond my craziest expectations," Vigalondo said.

Added Voltage CEO Nicolas Chartier: “As huge fans of Timecrimes, we are thrilled to be collaborating with a filmmaker as talented as Nacho. He has written an extraordinarily unique piece of material and we look forward to seeing Anne in such a challenging role."

Voltage arrives at the Cannes market well-armed. Chartier recently partnered with former IM Global president Jonathan Deckter, who is now Voltage president and COO. Not long after, John Fremes joined Voltage as president of sales and distribution from Nu Image/Millennium Films, where he served in the same post. Fremes will report to Deckter.

Voltage's Cannes sales slate also includes Christoph Waltz's directorial debut, The Worst Marriage in Georgetown. Based on Franklin Foer's New York Times Magazine article, the film will tell the true story of Albrect Muth (Waltz), an eccentric social climber who seduced and married a wealthy older widow, Viola Drath. Waltz is set to start shooting in October.

The company, whose past films include Oscar winner The Hurt Locker, also has a major presence in the festival with Natalie Portman's directorial debut, A Tale of Love and Darkness.

Hathaway is next in theaters this September in Nancy Meyers' The Intern, starring opposite Robert De Niro. She also reprises her role as the White Queen in Disney's sequel Alice Through the Looking Glass, set to hit theaters May 27, 2016. In addition to CAA, the Oscar-winning actress is also represented by Management 360.

CAA's film finance team has a number of high-profile projects at the Cannes market sure to draw interest from U.S. buyers, including the newly announced A Willing Patriot, starring Liam Neeson.

10:10 am, May 12 This article initially stated that the film was described as being Godzilla meets Lost In Translation. In fact, it was described as Godzilla meets Being John Malkovich.