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Shocking First Look: Elijah Wood Takes a Stab at ‘Maniac’ Redo!
Bloody Disgusting exclusively broke the news before Thanksgiving that Nora Arnezeder (Safe House) and Elijah Wood (The Lord of the Rings) have been cast as “Anna” and “Frank”, respectively, in Alexandre Aja (The Hills Have Eyes, Piranha 3D, Mirrors, High Tension) and producing/writing partner Grégory Levasseur’s remake of William Lustig’s classic 1980 slasher Maniac. Now we’ve landed the first two images featuring Wood attacking actress Genevieve Alexandra.
As previously reported, Aja and Levasseur will be reteaming with P2 helmer Franck Khalfoun. Khalfoun will be directing from a screenplay by Aja and Levasseur.
In the original film, “a schizoid serial killer randomly stalks and kills various young women in New York, which he sees as revenge for the mistreatment he got while being raised by his own abusive mother.” 
We have an exclusive first look at A Man in the Woods With an Axe, a blood-soaked, genre-twisting homage to 1980s slasher films.
Spanning four decades, A Man in the Woods With an Axe begins in the summer of 1987 before pushing into the modern era, weaving together timelines and perspectives in a way that builds both dread and intrigue.
Drawing inspiration from genre standouts like Tucker and Dale vs. Evil, Hatchet, and The Cabin in the Woods, the film blends visceral horror with moments of dark humor, creating a uniquely balanced experience that honors tradition while carving its own identity.
Writer-director Dillon Brown (Primal Darkness) aims to deliver everything fans crave from a slasher while boldly subverting expectations with a mid-film twist that redefines the story.
“This is an unapologetic love letter to the films that made me fall in love with horror,” Brown tells Bloody Disgusting. “But I didn’t just want to recreate that feeling; I wanted to challenge it. About halfway through, the film takes a turn that completely changes how you view not only this story, but the genre itself.”
Brown describes the vintage-inspired production as “far and away the bloodiest film I’ve ever made,” with practical effects helmed by Cody Ruch (The Mill, Pig Hill), an instructor at Tom Savini’s Special Make-Up Effects Program.
From Horror Dadz Productions, A Man in the Woods With an Axe is currently in production and targeting an early 2027 release.
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