Renowned filmmaker Abel Ferrara is gearing up for his latest project, “American Nails,” a contemporary gangster story infused with inspiration from ancient tragedy. Starring Asia Argento and Willem Dafoe, the film promises a gripping narrative set against the backdrop of power, violence, and revenge in the Italian gangster milieu.
“American Nails” weaves the tale of a modern-day Phaedra, played by Asia Argento, exploring her ascent and downfall in the ruthless gangster realm. Drawing from Euripides’ timeless masterpiece, the film unfolds in the shadows of the Roman Empire, providing a no-holds-barred retelling of a classic narrative. Asia Argento's character finds herself pitted against the remnants of male-dominated power and entitlement in contemporary Italy.
Abel Ferrara, along with co-writer Rossella De Venuto, crafts the screenplay for this ambitious project. Produced by Diana Phillips and Philipp Kreuzer for Rimsky Productions and Maze Pictures, “American Nails” is set to commence production in Italy during the summer.
This film marks the eighth collaboration between Abel Ferrara and the accomplished actor Willem Dafoe. Their previous projects include the Venice biopic “Pasolini” (2014), Cannes Film Festival selection “Tommaso” (2019), and Berlinale entry “Siberia” (2020). Dafoe, fresh from his acclaimed performance in Yorgos Lanthimos’ “Poor Things,” is set to continue his collaboration with the director in upcoming films like “Kinds of Kindness” with Emma Stone, “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” “The Legend of Ochi,” and “Nosferatu.”
Asia Argento, an accomplished actress, screenwriter, director, and musician, brings her diverse talents to “American Nails.” The daughter of filmmaker Dario Argento, she has been part of six of her father’s features and achieved mainstream success in films like “XXX” (2002), “Land of the Dead” (2005), and “Marie Antoinette” (2006). Her upcoming projects include “Les reines du Drame,” “Interstate,” “Que staremo benissimo,” “A Mother for an Hour,” “Fatti Vedere,” and “Stronger Than the Devil.” Notably, Argento has previously collaborated with Ferrara in films like “Go Go Tales” and “Padre Pio.”