Melanie Laurent to direct women-centric thriller The Mad Women's Ball

French star-filmmaker Melanie Laurent is set to write and direct period thriller The Mad Women's Ball. Based on the award-winning novel by Victoria Mas, the film will be produced by Legende Films, according to reports.

Set in the 19th century against major historical events, the adaptation will follow a woman unfairly institutionalised at the Salpetriere hospital.

According to Goldman, the film will be a powerful, cinematic, and engaging thriller about the injustice that women faced during that time. “The audiences will be rooting for this strong character who sets herself free,'' said Goldman.

The film might be shot in French or English.

Meanwhile, Laurent is about to direct sister duo Dakota and Elle Fanning in The Nightingale, a World War II drama set in Paris. Lauren was most recently seen in Netflix's 6 Underground.