The controversial Emilia Pérez star Karla Sofía Gascón has lined up her first project since coming under fire for sharing Islamophobic and racist posts on X in January. The Oscar nominee is set to play the lead in the psychological thriller The Life Lift as a psychiatrist who “embodies both God and the devil.” This is Italian director Stefania Rossella Grassi’s first film, and is described as “perturbing, livid and hypnotic,” according to promotional materials obtained by Variety. Gascón will star alongside Vincent Gallo, who has had his fair share of controversy as well. The Buffalo ’66 star was investigated by the labor union Screen Actors Guild–American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) in 2024 for making sexual remarks to female actors. For her part, Gascón was iced out by Netflix during Emilia Pérez‘s Oscars promotional run due to the offensive remarks she posted on X. The actress still attended the award show and has apologized for her actions. Gascón first indicated last week that she would be in The Life Lift while attending Turin’s Lovers Film Festival, the oldest film festival celebrating LGBTQ+ movies, in Italy. Gallo could not confirm her statements at the time. In an email to Variety, Grassi said that they plan to start shooting the film later this year and are expected to finish by February 2026.
