Rising star Théodore Pellerin (“Nino,” “Beau Is Afraid,” “Becoming Karl Lagerfeld”) will star opposite Félix Kysyl (“Misericordia”) and Filippo Scotti (“The Hand of God”) in the queer-tinged palace intrigue drama “By the King’s Favor” (“À la Faveur du Roi”).

Set for production this fall, the historical thriller unfolds within the court of Henry III (Pellerin) — the 16th-century French king and son of Catherine de’ Medici — who navigated the Wars of Religion with the support of his all-male courtiers, the so-called “mignons,” long rumored to be his lovers.

Directed by Rémi Giordano and written by Giordano alongside Jeanne Herry (“All Your Faces,” “In Safe Hands”), the film centers on a tense love triangle between the king, his chief advisor Odon (Kysyl), and a young milliner, Jean-Baptiste (Scotti), whom Odon brings to court to replace the king’s previous favorite. In doing so, Odon commits a forbidden act: he falls for the newcomer, forcing him to navigate the treacherous line between desire and loyalty.

Paris-based Yukunkun will produce alongside Montreal’s La Boîte à Fanny and Liège’s Tarantula Belgique. Le Pacte will handle French distribution and international sales, with VVS Films overseeing the Canadian theatrical release.

“At its core, the story is about politics and relationships,” says Yukunkun’s Nelson Ghrenassia, likening the project to Yorgos Lanthimos’ “The Favourite” and Karim Aïnouz’s “Firebrand.”

“The focus is on intimacy, character, and destiny. The film is deeply rooted in historical reality, but it highlights the workings of the court — a king balancing Protestants and Catholics, governing alongside his mother, and managing a kingdom under constant tension.”

“Henry III was both clever and extravagant — this ruler who didn’t really want to be king,” Ghrenassia continues. “He created much of the court etiquette later formalized under Louis XIV and introduced small changes, like eating with a fork. Yet we know surprisingly little about him. He ruled through the men around him: married and devoted to his wife, with no children, he relied on his courtiers to wield power. This isn’t a queer reinterpretation of history, as these dynamics were always there. The film simply brings them to light.”

Named one of Unifrance’s 10 to Watch for 2026, Montreal-native Théodore Pellerin is currently shooting Tom Ford’s “Cry to Heaven” alongside Nicholas Hoult, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Hunter Schafer, Colin Firth, and Adele. Later this year, he will join with Stacy Martin and Kysyl for Philippe Lesage’s “I Just Want a Great Love,” produced by Saïd Ben Saïd.