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Why does the remake of Possession, starring Margaret Qualley, stir up controversy?
British actor Robert Pattinson is set to co-produce a remake of the cult horror movie Possession, starring Margaret Qualley as a woman possessed by a monster with tentacles. That role was originally played by Isabelle Adjani. The American actress is expected to star opposite Callum Turner. But the new project directed by Parker Finn (Smile) is already stirring up debate…
By Violaine Schütz.
Published on 9 February 2026. Updated on 28 April 2026.
A far cry from his romantic debut in Twilight (2008), British actor Robert Pattinson has been choosing increasingly bold and unsettling roles and projects. In 2026, he shows no sign of slowing down. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the star will co-produce a remake of the cult horror film Possession.
Robert Pattinson was initially set to play the lead role, but he is now expected to hand it over to Callum Turner (Masters of the Air, Eternity). Actress Margaret Qualley (The Substance) should reprise the legendary role originally played by Isabelle Adjani.
A remake of the cult classic starring Margaret Qualley
Released in 1981, Possession, directed by Polish filmmaker Andrzej Żuławski, plunged Isabelle Adjani and Sam Neill (Jurassic Park, Peaky Blinders) into a terrifying atmosphere. Set in the haunted city of Berlin, the film follows Marc, a man who spies on his wife, Anna, whose behaviour grows increasingly strange. The latter may have a lover and asked for divorce. But it soon appears that she is in fact living with a dark creature with tentacles.
A risky project co-produced by Robert Pattinson
Following the announcement of the remake directed by Parker Finn (Smile), many people voiced very mixed reactions on social media. Regarded by many film critics as one of the greatest films of all time, Possession is simply second to none, according to film lovers.
One of the main reasons is the breathtaking performance delivered by the great Isabelle Adjani. The French actress had been deeply traumatised by this intense, hysterical role and by the grueling shoot, during which the director reportedly pushed her to her limits through toxic behaviour, as she shared several times in interviews. According to some, she even attempted suicide after filming wrapped. Ultimately, her inhabited performance was rewarded with a César in 1982.
One of Isabelle Adjani’s greatest performances
Many are questioning whether any actress could manage to deliver such a performance. Although Margaret Qualley is the name currently being considered, some had imagined someone else. It is hard not to think of Emma Stone, whose ferocity and violence in Poor Things (2024) echoed Isabelle Adjani’s performance in Possession. In any case, one can only hope that this time around, the shooting will not become a place for abuse “in the name of art”.
The remake of Possession, directed by Parker Finn and co-produced by Robert Pattinson, does not have a release date yet.
