Italian horror thriller The Spiral (original title L’Estranea) has become the focus of a trans-Atlantic deal. New Line Cinema emerged as the winning bidder in a competitive auction for the film’s remake rights and for distribution across a suite of Asian and North American markets. The agreement allows the studio to craft a full-length English-language adaptation while also handling the theatrical rollout of the original Italian version in key territories.
The arrangement covers the United States, Canada, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam, granting New Line a limited theatrical release in the U.S. before the close of the year to satisfy Oscar-season eligibility. By securing both remake and distribution rights, the studio positions itself to capitalize on the film’s momentum as Italy’s official Best International Feature Film contender.
Acquisition details and strategic rollout
Under the terms announced, New Line will develop an English-language feature that reinterprets director Paolo Strippoli’s vision for a broader audience. The company also obtained the right to market the original Italian cut in the listed territories, meaning the film will appear in select art-house cinemas across North America and several Asian markets. The limited U.S. engagement is timed to qualify for the Academy Awards, ensuring the title remains visible during the crucial awards window.
Le Pacte, the Paris-based sales agency that handled the transaction, will continue to manage international sales, while French distribution will be overseen by the same firm. Production partners—including Propaganda (Rome), Rai Cinema, Kazak Productions (France), Tarantula (Belgium) and Dinamo Film (Italy)—remain credited on the original, and the new English-language version is expected to involve a fresh cast and crew, though Strippoli may stay attached as writer-director.
‘The Spiral’: festival laurels and narrative premise
The film debuted in competition at the Venice Film Festival, where it captured the Young Cinema Award for Best Italian Film and the environmentally-focused Green Drop Award. Its North American premiere arrived at the Toronto International Film Festival within the Midnight Madness programme, earning a runner-up spot for the People’s Choice award. Subsequent screenings at Fantastic Fest and Sitges added further accolades: Jasmine Trinca won Best Actress at Sitges and the picture received the Silver Méliès for Best Film.
Set against a storm-racked night, The Spiral follows Trinca’s character, a mother who arrives at her daughter’s flat only to unveil a series of deceptive bargains that have shredded family ties. Valeria Bruni Tedeschi portrays the enigmatic “Stranger” who tempts the protagonist into a Faustian pact, while Romana Maggiora Vergano and Adriano Giannini round out the cast. Critics have highlighted the film’s deadpan humor, oppressive atmosphere and a compelling performance by Tedeschi as a modern Mephistopheles.
Strippoli’s oeuvre now includes four features: the award-winning The Holy Boy (2025), the 2022 drama Flowing and the 2021 genre hybrid A Classic Horror Story. The Holy Boy is slated to launch on Shudder on November 27, further building the director’s reputation for melding genre thrills with emotional depth.
