One of the more controversial films of 2009 came to us from the mind of Lars von Trier. ANTICHRIST offended many, was loved by a few (including yours truly), and became the talk of the internet when it first hit at last year’s Cannes Film Festival.

Back in October, von Trier announced that his next film would be a “psychological disaster film," entitled MELANCHOLIA. Since then, news on the project has been nowhere to be seen, except for von Trier proclaiming “no more happy endings,” which can only mean bad things ahead for the film’s lead.

That role appears to be set for one Penelope Cruz. According to a few different reports out of Europe, and all summed up by the geniuses over at The Playlist, Cruz is the actress that von Trier has had in mind since the film’s inception, and seems to have been cast in the lead role.

The only other thing we know about the film is that it is set to shoot in Germany and Sweden sometime later this year, with the hopes of making a Cannes 2011 debut, which will certainly be another screening that will go down in the lore of that great festival. It’s budgeted at $5 million, and will look at the psychology of a disaster.

All in all, this is one filmmaker that could be working on adapting the phone book and I would be excited. I don’t think he’s the greatest filmmaker working today, but he’s a voice that, while being intensely dark and disturbing (understatement of the year? I think so), many of his films are amazing. DOGVILLE nearly made my top 10 of the decade, BREAKING THE WAVES is still one of my favorite films, and DANCER IN THE DARK may be his masterpiece. Cruz is a great actress, so this is one project that, while I may be scared to see, it’s one that I can’t wait to get a chance to take in.

Source The Playlist