Movies
‘Project X’ Nerd Plays With ‘Beautiful Creatures’ Magic
Hot off his starring turn in Warner Bros.’ hit comedy Project X, Thomas Mann (pictured, center) – who will also be seen in Fun Size and Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters – is in negotiations to join the studio’s adaptation of Beautiful Creatures, the first novel in Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl’s popular series that is being produced by Alcon Entertainment, reports Variety.
Richard LaGravenese is writing and directing the supernatural love story, which stars Jack O’Connell (Eden Lake) and Alice Englert as two star-crossed teens who uncover dark secrets about their families, their history and their town.
Viola Davis, Emma Thompson and Emmy Rossum co-star, with the latter thesp playing a witch who is Englert’s cousin and enemy.
Mann is in talks to play Link, O’Connell’s best friend who’s fond of both music and magic, which Rossum’s character uses to get Link to obey her commands.
“In the first book, high-school student Ethan Wate meets and becomes bewitched by Lena Duchannes, a 16-year-old whose family has moved to the small South Carolina town where he lives. The two must confront a curse that has haunted her family for generations as she comes to grips with her powers.”
Production on the Southern pic starts next month in New Orleans.
The past comes back to haunt in the first teaser for The Cycle, the latest from director Jordan Downey ( The Head Hunter, V/H/S/Beyond).
Deborah Ann Woll (“Daredevil: Born Again“, Escape Room) stars as woman shocked to discover that a recent body discovered at a crime scene turns out to be her estranged father. It unleashes a supernatural nightmare.
The Cycle will debut exclusively on Shudder on October 23, 2026.
The logline reads, “When the body of a man missing for thirty-six years is discovered at the scene of a horrific crime, it’s up to his estranged daughter to unravel his dark past.“
Jeffrey Donovan (“Burn Notice“, Villains) also stars.
Jordan Downey wrote the screenplay with Kevin Stewart (The Head Hunter).
“We are so excited about The Cycle; Jordan has crafted such an original story that is gonna excite audiences. For us he has the ability to be the next great genre filmmaker and we can’t wait to make the movie,” said James Harris of production company Tea Shop (Obsession, 47 Meters Down). Peter Heller also produces.
Deborah Ann Woll rose to fame as the feisty vampire Jessica Hamby in HBO’s “True Blood” before becoming a fan favorite as Karen Page in Marvel’s “Daredevil” series. While horror fans recognize her from Escape Room and its sequel, Escape Room: Tournament of Champions, the versatile actress has captured gamers’ attention as Laufey, Kratos’ wife in God of War: Ragnarök. She’ll receive her solo spinoff game in the upcoming God of War: Laufey.
Check out the unsettling new teaser below and expect to learn more as we get closer to the Halloween season.