Renowned French filmmaker Claire Denis is in advanced negotiations to direct The Soap Maker, a dark crime thriller based on the shocking true story of Leonarda Cianciulli, an Italian serial killer who turned her victims into soap and baked goods.
The film, currently being pitched at the European Film Market (EFM) in Berlin, is an updated remake of Mauro Bolognini’s 1977 cult classic Gran Bollito. The original starred Shelley Winters as a twisted murderess who disposed of her victims through unsettlingly creative means.
A True Crime Tale Unlike Any Other
Set in 1930s and 1940s Italy, The Soap Maker follows the gruesome real-life crimes of Leonarda Cianciulli, a woman who lured unsuspecting victims into her home under the guise of fortune-telling, only to kill them and dissolve their remains using chemicals. The eerie twist? She allegedly used what remained to create soaps, candles, cookies, and cakes, which she then shared with neighbors and acquaintances.
Producers behind the project, including Gerry Pass (Chrome Entertainment) and Lucas Foster (Ford v Ferrari, Crimson Tide), describe the film as a sophisticated psychological crime drama, drawing comparisons to Silence of the Lambs, Seven, and Get Out. The production team has also secured the rights to a diary allegedly written by Cianciulli during her time in a psychiatric prison, which will serve as a key reference for the film’s dark and disturbing themes.
Denis' Vision and Upcoming Projects
If Denis signs on, she will bring her signature style to a story steeped in psychological horror and unsettling realism. Known for films such as Beau Travail (1999), Trouble Every Day (2001), and Both Sides of the Blade (2022), she has long been celebrated for crafting emotionally complex and visually striking narratives. While The Soap Maker is in early stages of development, Denis is also gearing up to direct The Cry of the Guards, a new project starring Tom Blyth (The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes), Mia McKenna-Bruce, Matt Dillon, and Isaach De Bankolé.
If all goes as planned, The Soap Maker will be filmed on location in Italy, capturing the eerie, atmospheric setting of one of history’s most unsettling true crime cases. With Denis at the helm, the film promises to be an unforgettable deep dive into the mind of a murderer whose crimes were as bizarre as they were terrifying.
