Film4 is excited to share that Sonoya Mizuno will make her feature directorial debut with Stages, a new project developed in partnership with A24.

Mizuno’s journey into film began with Alex Garland’s Ex Machina, which marked her screen debut. She has since appeared in a diverse range of acclaimed titles, from Annihilation and La La Land to Crazy Rich Asians and Shortcomings. On television, she has taken on a variety of standout roles, including the lead in Devs, as well as appearances in Maniac and House of the Dragon.

Stages brings together several long-standing creative relationships. Drawing on Mizuno’s own background in dance, the film will be produced by Peter Rice and Agile Films’ Myles Payne and Sam Ritzenberg, alongside Alex Garland, with whom Mizuno has built a rich on-screen collaboration over several projects. Reflecting on their partnership in an earlier interview, she spoke about the trust and openness at the centre of their work together, and the collaborative dynamic she shares with Garland and cinematographer Rob Hardy.

Further details about Stages will be announced as the project progresses. For updates, keep an eye on Film4’s channels.