Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara have scored the lead roles in Pawel Pawlikowski’s dramatic thriller "The Island".

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. As battle lines are quickly drawn, psychological warfare ensues between the countess and the American couple as sexual infidelity, betrayal and eventually, murder takes place among the island interlopers.

Pawlikowski will write and direct the film, which is produced by Tanya Seghatchian and John Woodward for Apocalypso Pictures and Brightstar.

The film will be shopped by FilmNation Entertainment to international buyers at the upcoming American Film Market and is being directed and written by Pawlikowski. It is inspired by true events.

Pawlikowski is one of the most respected auteurs currently working, having earned an Oscar nomination for directing "Cold War" and winning an Academy Award for best foreign language feature for "Ida". His other credits include "My Summer of Love" and "Last Resort".

Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara are a couple and previously appeared together in "Mary Magdalene". Phoenix also won an Oscar for "Joker" and is set to reprise that role in "Joker: Folie à Deux". His other notable roles include "The Master" and "Gladiator", as well as Ridley Scott's upcoming film "Napoleon", in which he will play the French military leader. Mara's credits include her Oscar-nominated turns in "Carol" and "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo". She is currently starring in "Women Talking", which is earning critical raves.

Source: Press Release