Movies
Kevin Smith’s ‘Red State’ Begins to Populate
I seriously feel like time has passed Kevin Smith by. Back in the day I was a HUGE fan, but as of late I’ve found myself disheartened not only by Smith’s online personality (bitching, moaning, making excuses — although, who the hell am I to talk?), but also by his films (especially Cop Out). It doesn’t mean I’m not rooting for him. Sh*t, who doesn’t want to see a good horror film? Later this month Smith gears up for his first try in our genre as he’s casting up his political horror Red State. According to The Wrap, Kyle Gallner (The Haunting in Connecticut, A Nightmare on Elm Street), Melissa Leo (“Treme”), Dermot Mulroney (The Messengers), Michael Angarano and Steven Root (“True Blood”) could be joining the previously announced character actor Michael Parks. Red State follows a group of misfits encounter fundamentalism gone to the extreme in Middle America.
Pictured: Kyle Gallner
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.