Movies
Jackson White Will Be Playing a Young Jud Crandall in Upcoming ‘Pet Sematary’ Movie
It was announced earlier this year that a new installment in the Pet Sematary franchise is in the works for Paramount+, with Jeff Buhler, who wrote the 2019 adaptation, writing. The project was initially announced as being a prequel, an approach that was later called into question. But this first bit of casting news, well, it sure seems to suggest it’s indeed a prequel.
Deadline reports that Jackson White (“Mrs. Fletcher”) is in final negotiations to join the cast of the mysterious movie, playing a young version of the character Jud Crandall.
Jud was of course originally played by the late Fred Gwynne in Mary Lambert’s Pet Sematary, with the role being played by John Lithgow in the 2019 version of Pet Sematary. In both versions of Stephen King‘s terror tale, Jud Crandall is the kind neighbor of the family at the center of the story, and the one who introduces them to the titular location and its powers.
Lindsey Beer (Sierra Burgess Is a Loser) has been hired to direct the new movie, making her directorial debut. Beer also wrote the latest draft of the movie’s script.
No word yet on plot details, but the film will presumably tell a new story set within the world of Stephen King‘s Pet Sematary. The novel has thus far been adapted twice for the big screen, first by Mary Lambert in 1989 and then by Kevin Kölsch and Dennis Widmyer in 2019. Mary Lambert also directed a sequel to her Pet Sematary, which was released in 1992.
The 2019 movie made an impressive $113 million at the box office on a reported $21 million production budget, so it’s a no brainer that Paramount is headed back to the Pet Sematary.
Lorenzo di Bonaventura is producing the new movie.
Jackson White in “Mrs. Fletcher”
Sunrise Films has announced the official North American release of William Bagley‘s horror comedy Hold the Fort, and it’s accompanied by an energetic new trailer.
Hold the Fort debuts on digital platforms on June 23.
In the film, “Lucas and Jenny think their life is finally coming together when the couple become homeowners. Little do they know that their new house comes with a big catch. Lucas and Jenny soon find themselves in a fight for their lives when they become trapped in a battle between their Homeowners Association and an onslaught of monsters from hell. The horror-comedy takes the timely concern of home-ownership and wraps this up in an entertaining action-packed thrill ride.“
Watch the new trailer below, which introduces one wild HOA gathering during an equinox. Things get bloody fast.
Chris Mayers (Adult Swim Yule Log), Haley Leary (“The Walking Dead”), Levi Burdick, and Julian Smith star.
William Bagley writes and directs, in addition to producing with Smith, Matt Dodd, Luke Williams, and Tim Reis (Adult Swim Yule Log).
Ahead of the release, Bagley said, “My goal with this film was to make a hilarious, fast-paced thrill ride while also telling a great story with heart. Hopefully, through all the blood, laughs, fights, and gags, you leave the film feeling inspired to tackle whatever life throws at you.“
Hold the Fort premiered at Fantasia last summer before going on to play FrightFest London, Toronto After Dark, and Beyond Fest.
I wrote in my review, “It’s an infectiously charming assemblage of jokes and monster vignettes bound together by a barebones plot with not much on its mind beyond delivering an entertaining time.”
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