Movies
First Look at Thomas Jane and Kara Hayward as Vampire ‘Slayers’!
Thomas Jane (Deep Blue Sea, The Mist, The Predator) and Kara Hayward become vampire Slayers in the first pic from the horror-comedy, which has already been sold to The Avenue for US distribution, reports ScreenDaily. Highland Film Group is selling globally at next month’s virtual AFM.
“Jane plays Elliot Jones, a man who has made it his life’s mission to search for the vampire who murdered his teenage daughter. He finally gets his shot at revenge when he hears that The Stream Team, a group of social media superstars including party girl Jules (Abigail Breslin; Signs, Zombieland, Zombieland: Double Tap) and Gen-Z pro-gamer Flynn (Hayward), have got a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet reclusive billionaire Beverly Rektor (Malin Akerman; Watchmen, Final Girls, Rampage) at her vacation compound.
“When the group discovers Rektor has not planned an evening of fun and descends from a long line of vicious blood-suckers, they must fight for their lives inside her house of horrors. Can Jones save the day?”
Lydia Hearst (The Haunting of Sharon Tate) rounds out the key cast on the completed film from K. Asher Levin based on a screenplay by Levin and Zack Imbrogno.
The Avenue is Highland Film Group’s domestic distribution arm and is targeting a 2022 release.
Hollywood is serious about landing the next Backrooms. Hot on the heels of a Siren Head feature announcement, Deadline reports that a new movie based on viral YouTube series The Mandela Catalogue is in development.
It also has some Hollywood heavy hitters behind it.
Amblin Entertainment’s Steven Spielberg, United Artists’ Scott Stuber (Frankenstein), and Amazon MGM Studios are set to produce, emerging victorious after a highly competitive 11-studio bidding war.
Launched in 2021, the YouTube series is set in the fictional Mandela County, Wisconsin which is “invaded by shape-shifting, nearly immortal creatures called Alternates. The Alternates are led by a false depiction of the Archangel Gabriel and their aim is to wipe out the human race by psychologically torturing them to the point of suicide. The Alternates are known for manipulating AV media, TVs, computers and GPS systems.”
The movie will be directed by the series’ creator, Alex Kister, based on a screenplay he adapted with Tyler Clifton.
The Mandela Catalogue has racked up an impressive 100 million views across its official episodes alone, solidifying it as one of the largest original analog horror franchises on YouTube.
Spielberg and Holly Bario are producing for Amblin Entertainment alongside Aaron B. Koontz for Paper Street Pictures and Stuber and Nick Nesbitt for United Artists. Kister and Clifton are also producing. Annie McCreery will oversee the project for United Artists. Maria Fortese will oversee for Amblin.
Get acquainted with The Mangela Catalogue below while we wait to learn more.