In a pre-Cannes move, Zooey Deschanel, Anton Yelchin, John Hawkes, Ciaran Hinds and Alia Shawkat are starring in dark comedy “The Driftless Area” from Unified Pictures and Bron Studios.

The project is adapated from Tom Drury’s novel of the same title, with Zachary Sluser directing from a screenplay he co-wrote with Drury.

Producers are Keith Kjarval through his Unified Pictures production/finance banner and Aaron L. Gilbert through Bron Studios in association with CW Media Finance. Nicole Romano at Anonymous Content is exec producing.

International sales are being handled by Mimi Steinbauer’s Radiant Films, who will present the project to buyers at the Cannes Film Market. CAA, which packaged “Driftless Area,” represents the film’s domestic distribution rights.

Deschanel stars as an enigmatic woman while Yelchin portrays a bartender who returns to his hometown after the death of his parents. When he falls in love with her, he is unwittingly pitted against a volatile criminal played by Hawkes.

Shooting will start May 14 in greater Vancouver.

Unified Pictures and Bron Studios most recently partnered on William H. Macy’s directorial debut “Rudderless,” recently acquired by Paramount and Samuel Goldwyn Films after its Sundance debut. Unified’s latest film “Loitering with Intent,” starring Sam Rockwell, Marisa Tomei and Natasha Lyonne, had its world premiere Friday at the Tribeca Film Festival.

Bron Studios is currently in production in Massachusetts on the romantic comedy “Tumbledown,” starring Jason Sudeikis, Rebecca Hall, Dianna Agron, Blythe Danner, Griffin Dunne, Joe Manganiello and Richard Masur.