‘Emmanuelle’ Trailer: Noémie Merlant and Will Sharpe Embark on an Erotic Quest in Audrey Diwan’s Adaptation of Famous French Novel

Audrey Diwan’s erotic quest movie “Emmanuelle” has dropped a first trailer and poster ahead of its world premiere screening in September at the San Sebastian Film Festival.

Shot in Hong Kong, the film is freely adapted from Emmanuelle Arsan’s novel of the same name. It casts a female gaze on the intimate quest of the woman whose name still evokes one cinema’s most provocative characters.

With “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” star Noémie Merlant in the title role, Emmanuelle goes in search of a lost pleasure. She flies alone to Hong Kong on a business trip. In this sensual global city, she initiates numerous encounters and meets Kei (Will Sharpe), a man who constantly eludes her.

Alongside Merlant, the film also stars Naomi Watts, Jamie Campbell Bower, Chacha Huang and Anthony Wong.

Diwan, a Venice Golden Lion winner for her 2021 film “Happening,” co-wrote “Emmanuelle” with fellow filmmaker Rebecca Zlotowski, whose 2013 feature “Grand Central” screened in competition at Cannes and won the François Chalais Award.

The “Emmanuelle” novel was previously made into a 1974 film of the same name, directed by Just Jaeckin and starring Sylvia Kristel. It became a cult hit and inspired numerous spinoffs and copycat works. According to Diwan, her retelling of the story was conceived as an exploration of pleasure in the post #MeToo era.

Diwan’s project was originally revealed at the 2022 Canned film festival with Lea Seydoux in the starring role.

Adaptation rights for Arsan’s book were acquired by Chantelouve (Marion Delord and Reginald de Guillebon). Chantelouve, Rectangle Productions and Goodfellas produced the film. The Veterans is handling worldwide sales.

“Emmanuelle” will be distributed by Pathé in France, where it will debut on Sept., 25, just five days after its premiere as the opening night title in San Sebastian.

Watch the trailer for “Emmanuelle” above.