Rooney Mara has signed on to lead Quest for Love, a new Paris-set drama that aims straight at intimacy, morality and the fragile limits of human connection.

The newly announced feature casts Mara as a mother described as enigmatic, beautiful and violent, according to reports tied to the project’s launch. She will also serve as an executive producer, expanding her role beyond the screen as the film enters the market. The project arrives with HanWay launching it in Cannes, a move that puts early industry attention on a film built around emotional intensity rather than spectacle.

This project brings together a high-profile star, a psychologically charged role and a Cannes launch designed to draw immediate global attention.

Quest for Love marks the latest feature from Irish actress, writer and director Antonia Campbell-Hughes. The film continues her work behind the camera following her SXSW-premiering directorial debut, and it signals a further step in shaping a distinct filmmaking identity. While many details remain under wraps, the outline suggests a story interested less in easy answers than in the messy collisions between desire, duty and harm.

Key Facts

  • Rooney Mara will star in the Paris-set feature Quest for Love.
  • Mara will also executive produce the film.
  • Antonia Campbell-Hughes wrote and directs the project.
  • HanWay is launching the film in Cannes.

The package matters because it blends art-house credibility with clear market appeal. Mara brings awards recognition and a reputation for intense, interior performances. Campbell-Hughes brings an emerging directorial profile and a story that appears focused on emotional risk. That combination could help the film stand out in a crowded sales environment, especially as buyers look for projects with both festival potential and recognizable talent.

What comes next will likely turn on casting, financing momentum and how strongly the Cannes launch lands with international partners. For now, Quest for Love stands as an early signal of where prestige film continues to lean: toward intimate stories, morally unstable characters and filmmakers betting that human connection still offers the sharpest drama.