Gainsbourg has worked on both sides of the Atlantic with top filmmakers like Alejandro Gonzales Iñárritu (21 Grams), Michel Gondry (The Science of Sleep) and Todd Haynes (I'm Not There). The versatile Dafoe previously collaborated with von Trier on Manderlay, the second film part of his US trilogy. Both actors will play a couple who retreats to an isolated cabin, following the death of their child. A battle of the nerves develops between them. The script was written by von Trier.
"I would like to invite you for a tiny glimpse behind the curtain, a glimpse into the dark world of my imagination: into the nature of my fears, into the nature of Antichrist," said Trier in a press release.
The film is produced by Meta Louise Foldager for Denmark's Zentropa Entertainments23, in co-production with Germany's Zentropa International Köln, France's Slot Machine, Sweden's Memfis Film, and Italy's Lucky Red. Co-financiers include The Danish Film Institute who just chipped in DKK 7.4m, Nordisk Film & TV Fond, Film i Väst, the Swedish Film Institute, Filmstiftung NRW, ARTE, ZDF, Canal+, DFFF and CNC. Pre-sales have already been concluded by TrustNordisk with around 25 territories.
Domestic release is set for summer 2009.