The dramatic thriller, loosely based on real events, will portray an attractive American couple in the 1930s who escape to their own private paradise on a deserted island and live off the land. But after a millionaire passing by on his yacht turns the couple into a tabloid newspaper sensation, a self-styled Countess appears with two lovers and plans to build a luxury hotel on the island.

“Pawel Pawlikowski is one of the world’s greatest filmmakers working today. Pawel bringing this story of jealousy, betrayal and murder in a Garden of Eden is exactly what we all need to drive audiences back to the cinema” FilmNation CEO Glen Basner said in a statement.

FilmNation Entertainment will begin to shop The Island to international buyers at the American Film Market, while WME Independent will pursue a U.S. distribution deal. Pawlikowski will write and direct the film, which is produced by Tanya Seghatchian and John Woodward for Apocalypso Pictures and Brightstar.

Mario Gianani and Lorenzo Gangarossa are co-producing for Wildside and Vision Distribution in collaboration with Sky.

Ewa Puszczynska is co-producing for Extreme Emotions, while Reno Antoniades will exec-produce.