Renée Zellweger Taps Harry Potter Director for Her Next Big-Screen Turn

Renée Zellweger is stepping out of rom-com mode and into something darker. She just signed on to star in the psychological thriller Phantom Son, with David Yates — yes, the British filmmaker behind a stack of Harry Potter movies — directing. It has the kind of premise that could get under your skin in a hurry.

The setup

Here’s the hook: the story centers on Ronnie, a young runaway trying to survive on the street. He’s taken in by Audrey (Zellweger), a lonely woman whose son was kidnapped two decades ago. Audrey becomes convinced the kid she’s sheltering is actually her missing son, and from there the movie leans into a tense back-and-forth where truth, lies, and wishful thinking start to blur. If you like your thrillers with a slow-burn psychological edge, this sounds like exactly that.

Who’s behind it and how it came together

• Director: David Yates
• Writer: Ian Scott McCullough
• Star/Developer: Renée Zellweger, who built the project with Carmella Casinelli under their Big Picture Co. banner
• Backing: Co-produced and financed by AGC Studios
• Timing: Cameras are expected to roll in the first quarter of 2026

Where this lands for Zellweger

This is the first time in a while she’s headlining something that isn’t a comedy. Her last straight-up dramatic feature was Judy in 2019, which won her the Best Actress Oscar. Since then, she’s been keeping things lighter — she just returned as Bridget Jones in the new sequel Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, and she recently popped up on Only Murders in the Building playing billionaire Camila White. So Phantom Son is a pivot back to a darker lane, and with Yates steering, it’s an intriguing combo. He’s known for large-scale franchise filmmaking; seeing him do a tight, character-driven thriller should be interesting.

"Phantom Son is that rare discovery with promise to connect on a broad scale with the kind of rich, character-driven storytelling we love, and we're thrilled it's taking shape with such an extraordinary team. With David at the helm, and AGC as our partner, we're poised to deliver something really special."

That’s Zellweger and Casinelli talking about the project, and yeah, they’re clearly all-in. The 2026 start date means it’ll be a minute before we see footage, but the ingredients are strong: a creepy premise, a veteran director, and Zellweger diving back into dramatic territory. I’m into it.