Controversial Oscar nominee Karla Sofía Gascón cast in new film—here's what we know

Karla Sofía Gascón is ready for a comeback.

Gascón, who starred as the titular character in 2024's most controversial Oscar movie, Emilia Pérez, has landed her first role since her viral Oscar campaign.

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Gascón is set to play a psychiatrist who "embodies both God and the devil" opposite Vincent Gallo in the psychological thriller The Life Lift from first-time Italian director Stefania Rossella Grassi, as reported by Variety.

The film stars Gallo, the director and star of movies like The Brown Bunny and Buffalo '66, as Gabriel, a man living in New York who finds messages on Post-its in his building's elevator that "order him to commit atrocious murders of three other tenants who, in turn, want to kill their next-of-kin," per the same Variety report.

Emilia Pérez, which earned 13 nominations in 2024, was one of the most controversial Oscar movies in years, with Mexican and trans critics decrying how it portrayed their communities and many viewers disliking the film.

It became even more controversial when racist, bigoted, and hateful social media posts about Muslims, George Floyd, and diversity at the Oscars — shared by Gascón — resurfaced. Gascón, the first out trans actor to be nominated for an acting Oscar, ended up attending the ceremony where she was nominated for Best Actress, but did not walk the red carpet.

In her initial apologies, Gascón insisted she was not hateful or racist, and that she was being targeted for harassment. However, in March of 2025, she issued a new apology, saying she was ready to "learn, listen, admit mistakes, apologize, and forgive others as I forgive myself for the unnecessary pain I have caused."

"With no excuse, and without any intention to justify any of my past actions, I apologize to all I have offended at any point in my life and throughout my journey," she said to The Hollywood Reporter. "I humbly ask for their forgiveness and, to honor their kindness and understanding, I promise I will commit to continuing to learn and listen, so as not to make the same mistakes in the future."

Gallo has also faced controversy, most recently when three female actors filed a complaint to SAG-AFTRA that while they were auditioning for his upcoming film The Policeman, he said lewd comments to them, saying "I may ask you to suck my cock onscreen, and I want an actress who is not going to put up a fight about that," via Variety.

The Life Lift isn't Gascón's only upcoming project. Last year, it was announced that she is starring in Oscar-winner Armando Bó's (Birdman) Spanish-language trans fable Las Mala. She also shot an Italian comedy, Men and Other Inconveniences, before Emilia Pérez, which is expected to be released soon.