Movies
James Wan Developing Unscripted Reality TV Projects
Fresh off last year’s Malignant, James Wan is currently finishing up sequel Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom for early 2023 release, but he’s also heading into the unscripted arena as well.
THR reports this week that James Wan’s Atomic Monster banner has linked up with Truly Original (“Ink Masters”) for a series of unscripted projects, with several currently in the works.
The Hollywood Reporter details, “The two companies are said to have multiple projects in various stages of development in a number of different unscripted genres.”
The unscripted small screen projects are being developed and produced by Ingrid Bisu (Malignant), Michael Clear, Steven Weinstock, Glenda Hersh, and Chachi Senior.
“I love watching reality TV because, when done right, it can be unfiltered and raw. It’s fascinating to see love, triumph, heartbreak and the entire human experience on display during the most intimate moments in a stranger’s life. It makes one feel less alone when so many of the situations these people find themselves in are extremely relatable. That’s what I want to see more of,” Ingrid Bisu said in a statement. “James and I are so excited to work with the folks at Truly to turn some of our original concepts into series.”
“This is an opportunity to bring a completely fresh creative approach and perspective to unscripted,” said Chachi Senior. “James’ and Atomic Monster’s distinct and ridiculously captivating storytelling abilities, combined with Truly’s deep experience and legacy of creating unscripted hits, provides an exciting foundation for the various series we’re developing together. We’re all looking forward to taking these projects to market, and ultimately, to viewers.”
Will any of these projects be HORROR projects? Here’s hoping…
A contemporary reimagining of H.P. Lovecraft’s short story Herbert West: Reanimator is on the way, and Deadline has unveiled the first look at the new Herbert West and the pathologist drawn to his orbit.
The original screenplay and storyline come from Jade Sandberg Wallis.
Michael Grossman (“The Originals”, “Pretty Little Liars”) directs.
The new images introduce star Joseph Morgan (“Vampire Diaries“), who plays “brilliant surgeon and scientist Herbert West, who is obsessed with creating a serum to reanimate the dead.” Katie Cassidy (Speed Demon) stars opposite as the pathologist with a troubled past who joins his efforts.
Together, they prove that conquering death may be the ultimate sin against life itself.
The film’s official synopsis: “As a child, Herbert West watches his father Peter reanimate his dead mother Judith in a secret basement lab — only for Judith to mortally wound Peter and nearly kill Herbert before Peter shoots her. The trauma leaves its mark on Herbert, but so does one final image: his mother’s finger, twitching after death. Thirty years later, Herbert West is a brilliant, secretive surgeon still chasing his father’s obsession.
“Pathologist Kate Locke arrives in town and is drawn into his orbit — first through a spark at a hospital fundraiser, then through his secret lab, where he reveals a serum capable of reanimating severed tissue. Kate, hiding a dark past of her own, is thrilled rather than horrified, and moves into West’s mansion to work alongside him. Their early experiments on a cadaver succeed only briefly. West concludes that dead tissue is the problem — they need something fresher.”
Supporting cast includes Scott Aiello, Ira J Amyx, Randall Newsome, Emma Reinagal, James D. Bryce, Kathryn A Bentley, Jack Lancaster, Amy Holland Pennell, John Pierson, Mindy Shaw, Eric Dean White, Tristan Wilder Hallet, Adrienne Lamping, Aaron Crippen, and Drew Patterson.
Makeup artist Jeff Lewis (“Star Trek: Voyager,” “Star Trek: Enterprise”) and cousin Roger Lewis are heading the production via their newly established Woodlake Entertainment.
Lovecraft’s short story, first serialized in Home Brew magazine in 1922, is the first among his works to mention the fictional Miskatonic University. It was most famously adapted into a 1985 horror movie from Stuart Gordon, starring Jeffrey Combs as Herbert West.
Herbert West: Reanimator is set in Alton, Illinois, where production is now underway.
Herbert West: Reanimator. Photo credit: Matt Lief Anderson
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