Academy Award®-nominated French animation studio Xilam Films has greenlit its upcoming adult-targeted psychological thriller The Wolf, an animated feature adaptation of the graphic novel from best-selling author Jean-Marc Rochette (Snowpiercer).
The feature is co-written and directed by Benjamin Massoubre and Fursy Tessier – who previously collaborated on Xilam’s 2020 Academy Award-nominated I Lost My Body, with Sabine Dabadie also serving as co-writer. Xilam has also unveiled the feature’s voice cast will be led by the César Award winner Roschdy Zem (Days of Glory, Chocolat) alongside Cannes Film Festival 2026 shared ‘Best Actress’ winner Virginie Efira (All of A Sudden, Elle).
Screening as part of Annecy’s ‘Work in Progress’ sessions on Tuesday 23rd June, with an exclusive preview of the film’s first images, The Wolf uniquely combines 3D animation and traditional drawing techniques to deliver the effect of live-action with a painterly style.
The Wolf is produced by Xilam’s Marc du Pontavice, and co-produced by Lilian Eche for Bidibul Productions (Luxembourg), with Goodfellas tapped for international sales and ARP for theatrical distribution in France. Additionally, the international platform Crunchyroll has pre-bought worldwide SVOD rights (excl. China and Japan). The film is set to be delivered in April 2027, and is also supported by Film Fund Luxembourg, the CNC through its Animation Technical Assistance program, the Réunion Region, the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region, and the Charente Department.
Set in the heart of the Alps, The Wolf follows Gaspard (Roschdy Zem), a hardened shepherd who is haunted by the loss of his son and leads a solitary life with his flock. When a wandering wolf threatens his fragile peace and slaughters his flock, Gaspard, blinded by rage, embarks on a perilous quest for vengeance — one that will lead him to the farthest reaches of his sorrow and guilt.
“Jean-Marc Rochette’s The Wolf offers a rare combination of dramatic force with remarkable thematic depth. Beneath the apparent simplicity of the story – a shepherd against a wolf – lies a multi-layered narrative and a psychological thriller. Since working together on I Lost My Body, I’ve been continually impressed by Benjamin Massoubre and Fursy Tessier’s masterful storytelling and bold creative vision – now with The Wolf, they’re crafting a gripping cinematic experience, while using groundbreaking techniques to blur the boundaries between animation and live-action,” said Marc du Pontavice, Founder and CEO at Xilam Films. “We’re privileged to have Bibidul Productions, Goodfellas, ARP and Crunchyroll join us on this journey, and to also have the remarkably talented Roschdy and Virginie leading our voice cast – who we know will add dramatic depth, emotional resonance and authenticity to this universal human story.”
French painter and illustrator Jean-Marc Rochette’s The Wolf, first published in France by Editions Casterman, is part of a trilogy which has sold 450,000 copies in France. He is also the creator of the best-selling Snowpiercer, which was adapted into a film by Academy Award-nominated director Bong Joon-ho (Parasite) starring Chris Evans, and a TNT series starring Jennifer Connelly and Daveed Diggs.
