Award-winning Norwegian actress Renate Reinsve will portray the pioneering 18th-century writer, philosopher, and women's rights advocate Mary Wollstonecraft. Reinsve, fresh from her performance in Cristian Mungiu's Cannes 2026 Palme d’Or winner 'Fjord' and her acclaimed role in 'Sentimental Value', leads a talented ensemble. She is joined by Johnny Flynn and Vicky Krieps in key roles, alongside Charlie Kelly, Will Keen, Tom Sturridge, and Jane Beever.
'If Love Should Die' will chronicle the pivotal last 12 years of Wollstonecraft's life, tracing her journey from a young, impoverished governess to a determined writer living by her pen on the eve of the French Revolution. Wollstonecraft is also famously known as the mother of 'Frankenstein' author Mary Shelley.
This marks Mia Hansen-Løve's first English-language feature since her Cannes 2021 selection, 'Bergman Island', which also starred Vicky Krieps. Hansen-Løve, celebrated for her distinctive cinematic voice and films like 'Things to Come' (for which she won the Berlin Film Festival’s Silver Bear for Best Director in 2016), expresses her excitement for the project.
"I’m thrilled that I’m finally able to make the film I’ve been preparing for a long time and that is particularly close to my heart. It’s a huge challenge: bringing Mary Wollstonecraft to the screen for the very first time. I’m also very happy to be supported by such a talented, committed team and above all, to share this adventure with the wonderful Renate Reinsve," said Hansen-Løve.
The film is a robust European co-production spanning Ireland, France, Norway, Spain, and the UK. Production is backed by Anonymous Content and RT Features, with Anonymous Content co-repping domestic rights alongside CAA Media Finance.
Behind the camera, Hansen-Løve is joined by multi-award-winning cinematographer Claire Mathon ('Portrait of a Lady on Fire', 'Spencer'), her frequent collaborator and editor Marion Monnier, production designer Mela Melak ('A Real Pain'), and costume designer Louise Stanton ('The Quiet Girl').
The extensive list of producers includes David Thion for Les Films Pelleas (France), Patrick O’Neill and Conor Barry for Wildcard (Ireland), María Zamora for Elastica Films (Spain), Maria Ekerhovd at Mer Film (Norway), and Joshua Horsfield and Saskia Duff at Intake Films (UK), along with Thembisa Cochrane and Georgie Paget at Caspian Films (UK). Financing comes from Rodrigo Teixeira for RT Features, Nick Shumaker and David Levine for Anonymous Content, Raffaella Leone for Leone Film Group, Marco Perego for Artists Haven and Nightjar Films, with MUBI having financed development.
Co-producers include Marie Kjellson and Wik (Sweden), Lars Thomas Skare for Mer Film, and Kristina Börjeson for Film i Väst. Associate producer is Phillippe Martin at Les Films Pelleas. The film also benefits from executive producers Franklin and Nicholas Laviola, Francesca Mormanni, Pio & Co, La Femme qui Aimait les films, Tempio, Mikino, Bobby Allen of MUBI, and Seona Bell. Additional co-production support comes from Film i Väst, Arte France Cinema, and The Match Factory in co-production with Bayerischer Rundfunk, in collaboration with ARTE. Further support is provided by Eurimages, Les Films du Losange, Elastica Distribution, Leone Distribution, Norwegian Film Institute, Screen Ireland, Mediafondet Zefyr, Vestnorsk Filmsenter, ICAA, Arte France, Canal+, Cine+/OCS, Filmin, HBO (Spain), Région Île-de-France, Région Normandie, and the UK Global Screen Fund, with additional backing from BFI and the National Lottery.
Mia Hansen-Løve is represented by Gersh Agency and Intertalent. Renate Reinsve is with CAA and Narrative PR. Johnny Flynn is represented by CAA, United Agents, and Public Eye Communications, while Vicky Krieps is with United Agents, CAA, Agence Adequat, and Tapestry London. Will Keen and Charlie Kelly are represented by Independent Talent Group, and Tom Sturridge by WME and Independent Talent Group.