EXCLUSIVE: It’s been nearly a decade since Tom Ford directed a film, but it looks like the multi-hyphenate has zeroed in on his next project and lined up an all-star ensemble to lead it.

Sources tell Deadline that Ford has confirmed he will direct an adaptation of the Anne Rice novel Cry to Heaven. The screenplay has been written by Ford, who is also directing and producing through his Fade To Black production company.

Set in 18th century Italy, the film stars Nicholas Hoult, Aaron Taylor Johnson, Adele (in her movie debut), Ciarán Hinds, George MacKay, Mark Strong, Colin Firth, Paul Bettany, Owen Cooper, Daniel Quinn-Toye, Hunter Schafer, Josephine Thiesen, Thandiwe Newton, Theodore Pellerin, Daryl McCormack, Cassian Bilton, Hauk Hannemann and Lux Pascal.

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The film is currently in pre-production in London and Rome and principal photography is set to begin in mid-January for an anticipated late autumn 2026 release.

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The original novel from Interview With the Vampire author Rice follows the paths of two unlikely collaborators: a Venetian noble and a castrated singer from Calabria, both trying to succeed in the world of the opera. The story touches on themes of identity, betrayal, love and the pursuit of artistic and personal freedom, all ideas that fall right in Ford’s wheelhouse. He has explored these themes in his filmmaking as well in the world of fashion in the past.

Ford has been eyeing this project as his next film since last year but wanted to make sure the right cast was in place before setting a start date. As for financing, Ford had been talking to several studios but ultimately decided to self-finance the film and shoot on his own terms, with plans to take it out to market after production has ended. The former Gucci and YSL creative director sold his Tom Ford fashion label to the Estée Lauder Companies for $2.8 billion in 2023.

The film not only marks Adele’s film acting debut, but it also reunites Ford with a handful of actors from past films including Taylor-Johnson, who starred in Nocturnal Animals, and Firth, who earned rave reviews and won the Volpi Cup at the Venice Film Festival for his starring role in A Single Man.

Ford wrote, produced and directed his first film A Single Man, which launched in competition at the Venice Film Festival in 2009. The film would go on to earn an Oscar nomination, a BAFTA win, as well as a place on the AFI Film of the Year list and the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding film.

Ford’s second film Nocturnal Animals won the 2016 Grand Jury prize at Venice and went on to receive nine BAFTA nominations; three Golden Globe nominations, including Best Director and Best Screenplay for Ford, with Taylor-Johnson winning best supporting actor; and an Oscar Best Supporting Actor nomination for Michael Shannon.

Ford is repped by CAA.