# ‘Her Private Hell’ Director Nicolas Winding Refn on Ignoring Critics, Why the Government Must Regulate AI and Planning His Third Film With Ryan Gosling

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/her-private-hell-director-nicolas-winding-refn-on-ignoring-critics-why-the-government-must-regulate-ai-and-planning-his-third-film-with-ryan-gosling/
- Published: 2026-07-24T16:26:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-07-24T17:19:12+00:00
- Original publisher: Variety
- Original article: https://variety.com/2026/film/features/nicolas-winding-refn-her-private-hell-critics-ryan-gosling-1236818707/
- Topics: AI, Celebrity, Entertainment, Film, Government, Politics, Technology

## Key points

- Refn’s new sci-fi film embraces artificiality and visual excess.
- “Her Private Hell” received mixed Cannes reviews but targets cult appeal.
- Sophie Thatcher was chosen after a year-long casting search.

## Summary

Nicolas Winding Refn discusses his 11th feature, “Her Private Hell”, a stylised sci-fi drama now released in cinemas by Neon. He presents the film as a deliberate move away from convention and algorithms, despite mixed Cannes reviews, and says he is unconcerned by critical reaction as he pursues a more artificial, operatic style.

The film follows actress Elle, soldier Private K and a killer called Leatherman through a futuristic city, with Sophie Thatcher and Charles Melton in leading roles. Refn says its story grew from two initial images—Private K going to hell and a young woman arriving in a nonexistent city—and describes the intended visuals as intensely colourful and dreamlike; he cast Thatcher after a year-long search, largely on instinct.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.