Beck & Woods’ 5 Favorite Horror Screenplays

While speaking with the Haunt filmmakers and A Quiet Place writers about Haunt’s new two-disc Blu-ray Collector’s Edition (available here), ComingSoon.net had the chance to ask Scott Beck and Bryan Woods what they think the five best horror screenplays are. The duo was gracious enough to dive into the horror scripts that landed at the top of their list, including Alien, The Sixth Sense, and more, which you can check out below!

RELATED: CS Interview: Beck & Woods on Haunt Collector’s Edition, Quibi & 65!

Woods: Okay, so immediately at the top of the list we have to go with Alien as a screenplay. And it would be the Walter Hill/David Giler draft of the script originally written by Dan O’Bannon. It’s so terrifying, obviously we know how scary it is. It’s an absolutely frightening concept that is treated so seriously. But the prose on the page is what makes the script next level, it’s that kind of Walter Hill… almost written in haiku form. It’s these small tiny sentences and they just tick by one by one, very engaging, very quick read, very sparse. You can argue it adds to the claustrophobia of the movie itself. That is such a brilliant screenplay.

Beck: Number two would be The Sixth Sense. That’s a script that captivated us, just the use of language that Shyamalan commands in terms of painting active scenes. One of the first lines is like, “a naked light bulb sparks to light.” Just the description of that draws me in. Outside of the mastery of the story unfolding, it’s just the use of language to really evoke the character drama behind it that is not just scary, but it’s scary because you’re so invested in what these characters really feel.

Woods: This is a boring answer, but Se7en is one of our favorite screenplays. Forcefully written by Andrew Kevin Walker, so terrifying, brilliant high concept and then the idea of just revealing the killer halfway through and then dealing with the ramifications of that, super smart.

Beck: It’s weird because I consider this a horror movie. I’m not sure everybody would, but Nightcrawler by Dan Gilroy. On the one hand it’s the writing style, it’s so sparse and scary in a similar way to the Alien draft. But the way that it draws you in with that language in terms of the darkness, not just of the environment, but also the character. You’re feeling on one hand sympathetic, or at least you’re understanding where Jake Gyllenhaal’s character is coming from. But at the same time, it draws you in to the degree that you feel like you sided with a psychopath. I remember reading that script and wondering what the hell is wrong with me by the end of the read that I had been rooting for him.

Woods: Let’s go to Zodiac. So Zodiac by James Vanderbilt is one of the greatest scripts of all time. It’s amazing both because it’s almost like a newspaper movie like All the President’s Men where you hear people talking over the phone, in person… okay, which is amazing, but when the horror scenes hit, they are terrifying. You have the basement scene in the middle of the film, where Gyllenhaal is investigating a lead and he winds up in a basement. It’s just so meticulously set up for you to know that everything that’s happening is wrong and off-putting. I want to say we’ve read three different drafts of that script and they’re all good and it’s a great supplement — scripts are a great supplement to the movie.

The movie is basically a sprawling investigation of the Zodiac killer and the detail and the madness and the obsession that the movie is dealing with dramatically translates to us as readers and fans of the script, where we had to obsessively pour over every draft we could get our hands on. That is a master class in screenwriting. Scott and I became obsessed with the Zodiac in high school and college. It’s like one of those cases that is easy to get obsessed with it. Jamie captured that in the script. His passion was in the DNA of the script and in the DNA of the movie, and that’s pretty cool.

What are your favorite horror movie screenplays? Sound off in the comments below!

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Exclusive Dating Amber Clip From Samuel Goldwyn Films’ New Comedy

ComingSoon.net has an exclusive clip from Samuel Goldwyn Films’ upcoming comedy romance drama Dating Amber, written and directed by David Freyne (The Cured). You can check out the clip now in the player below and pre-order the movie here!

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In Dating Amber, a closeted gay teen and his lesbian counterpart pretend to be a couple to avoid suspicion.

The movie stars the ensemble cast of Fionn O’Shea (Handsome Devil, Normal People), Lola Petticrew (Wolf, A Bump Along the Way), Sharon Horgan (Military Wives, Game Night), and Barry Ward (White Lines, Extra Ordinary).

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Samuel Goldwyn Films will release the film On Demand and on Digital on November 10, 2020.

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CS Interview: Tobin Bell on retro horror pic The Call

Just in time for the film’s digital debut, ComingSoon.net got the opportunity to chat with horror genre legend Tobin Bell (Saw franchise, Belzebuth) to discuss his role in the retro-vibe genre pic The Call in which he stars alongside fellow genre legend Lin Shaye (Insidious franchise)!

RELATED: CS Interview: Lin Shaye Talks New Horror Venture The Call

ComingSoon.net: So this film is just about as fun as Belzebuth, it’s got a nice retro vibe to it, but what about The Call really drew you to the project?

Tobin Bell: It was the long scene with the kids. You do things for different reasons, sometimes it’s the location, sometimes it’s the actors you’re working with, sometimes it’s the money, sometimes it’s the director, and sometimes it’s the script. In this case, there was this wonderful challenge to make the scene in the house with the kids, which is a very long scene, be organic and seem real and how to make how to play off of each individual kid. You know, these are, these are wonderful challenges and hurdles to overcome. So sometimes I do things because I’m like, “I think I can make this work if I can get the physical logic down and the timing,” right? I can make this seem like it’s his house and his moment. If I’ve done my preparation properly and created the elements properly,  this can be fun, snd so that’s why I did The Call, plus I thought the script was good, and I love one of those group of young actors in something, and you’re going to get to deal with them all the time and pick up their vibe. You know, it’s always a great thing. So that’s the answer to your question is I’m gonna overcome this hurdle, plus, I had a car payment [laughs].

CS: So since you mentioned picking up on each kid’s vibe and playing off of them, did you find that you got to do that a lot in rehearsal or did a lot of that come from doing the scenes in front of the cameras?

TB: You know, casting has a great deal to do with that. If people are cast, like you pick up their vibe almost right away, because the casting director picked up that same vibe. In this case, there’s Tonya, and she’s kind of a loose cannon in a certain way, and then there’s Zack, the sort of good looking guy, and then there’s a nerdy guy, and then there’s the role Chester Rushing plays and so mostly, you get it from just their persona, you know, you walk up and shake their hands, and if they’re cast properly, you get exactly why they were cast as that character from the moment you meet. You can minimize risk by perfect casting, and in this case the film was cast really, really well. You know how it is, you meet someone in a restaurant or something in real life and pick up a vibe from from them right away. Well, not only do these kids have that vibe, personally, but they needed to have it to play who they were playing in the film, so that’s a testament to the casting. They were very energetic, very attentive, very dedicated to what they were doing and when you have young actors, they’re always so enthusiastic to be there. You know, they’re starting their career and they’re working with people that they’ve seen in films. So that’s exciting on both sides of the equation, you know, it’s exciting for me, and, and for them.

CS: Speaking of fantastic casting, we finally get to see you paired with Lin, who told me a little joke about how James Wan was like both of godfathers for the horror genre, what was it like finally getting to work with her?

TB: It was great, I mean, I had never met her before and I wasn’t that familiar with her work. But I knew that she had worked with Leigh Whannell and also with James and I also knew how dedicated to the craft she is. So that was encouraging and it’s great to work with, I really liked what she brought to the moments.

Click here to rent or purchase The Call!

CS: There’s a really warm rapport between you two when things aren’t going in the scary direction, what was it like building that rapport between you two?

TB: Well we barely knew each other, and really in the end, the camera sees everything. So if we were at all reticent or nervous, or whatever, on more uncomfortable, awkward, whatever the camera will see that. So fortunately, Lin likes to connect and I felt an immediate willingness and hunger on her part to connect with me and to that the camera sees that too. So that was both welcome and and refreshing and very encouraging, because, you know, I had only met her like 15 minutes before we started acting together. So the human element becomes hugely important and the fact that she’s willing to let her defenses down, and me too, and her guard down, and me too, makes it easier to make that instantaneous connect that was required for the relationship between each of them. The kind of training that Lin has and the way she honors the acting profession, those are the kind of people you want to work with. People who respect to the profession that we’re in and are so dedicated to it and have such have the kind of skills that Dublin has had for so many years, it’s always a treat. Whenever you’re cast in something, the actors that you’re with makes a difference, andso it it was a joy to play her, her husband in The Call and and to be part of that whole project, and I’m really glad it’s, it’s gonna be streaming at the end of the month, I’ve talked to a lot of people that saw it and drive-in theaters and they loved it. They loved being out of the house and sitting in sitting with the big screen in front of them. It’s a lot of fun to see it that way.

CS: After making the rounds at drive-ins earlier this month, the film’s now coming to digital platforms, how do you feel about the release model for it?

TB: You know, I think it’s great. I mean, obviously we’ve been trapped in this bubble since February and where are we now, almost November. Any way that we can, you know, stay safe and not endanger people, but go on with life and with the living of life, particularly when it comes to performing arts. Because performing arts, except for streaming and that sort of thing, I mean, I’m particularly gratified that on October 30, that The Call will be available on multiple platforms that people can enjoy at home, but I’m very concerned about what’s going to happen to Broadway, Off Broadway, what’s going to happen to, you know, the Old Vic in London, and theaters that are a huge cultural resource on the performing artists. If you depend on streaming, I mean, I’m not going to mention companies, musicians are having a horrible time making money on their music, the only way you can make money is is in touring, and now they can’t tour, you can’t be in any performance space. I think we’ve got to figure out a way to overcome that, and obviously I don’t have the answer, because I’m not a scientist. But we’ve got to pay attention to what the scientists tell us about this whole COVID thing, but I’m very concerned, there is nothing more important than the performing arts from a cultural point of view. What we’re doing to children, you know, not being able to go to school, not being able to participate in sports and do the things that make growing up so vital to the development of human beings. We can’t do that anymore. I’m really concerned about all of that. I suppose a lot of people are so I’m not speaking out of turn here, I’m not saying that we shouldn’t be being careful. We should, so I don’t have the answer, I’m just really worried about the performing arts, because of the necessity of keep distance. What we’re told is the necessity, which I believe in.

CS: So, to look away from the film for a moment, next year we hopefully will see the return of the Saw franchise with Spiral, can you tell me your thoughts on the next installment in the series? 

TB: It’s kind of hard for me to talk about it, but I can tell you this. If it came out of Chris Rock’s mind, it’s probably gonna be worth seeing. So that’s as much as I’m gonna say [chuckles] I’m gonna say he’s a pretty creative guy and a valued artist.

This spine-tingling tale stars horror icons Shaye and Bell alongside Chester Rushing (Stranger Things), Erin Sanders (Big Time Rush) and Judd Lormand (SEAL Team).

“Pairing Tobin and Lin, or Saw’s Jigsaw and Insidious’ Elise Rainier as they’re known to horror fans around the world, brings so much terror to the screen,” Emmy-nominated director Timothy Woodward Jr, said in a statement. “Their chemistry is undeniable, and the power of their scenes splinters off, creating this dark, macabre world these characters are forced to survive in.”

Directed by Woodward Jr., The Call was written by Patrick Stibbs and produced by Final Destination creator Jeffrey Reddick, Stibbs, Zebulun Huling, Gina Rugolo and Randy J. Goodwin. Executive Producers include Nicolas Chartier, Jonathan Deckter, Matthew Helderman, Joe Listhaus, Drew Ryce, James Shavick, Kirk Shaw and Luke Taylor. Co Producers include James Cullen Bressack and Chaysen Beacham.

The Call is now available on digital platforms and premium VOD!

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Elisha Cuthbert & Eoin Macken to Lead Horror Pic The Cellar

Epic Pictures has announced its upcoming Irish horror-thriller The Cellar has begun building its cast with the additions of Elisha Cuthbert (The Ranch, Happy Endings, 24) and Eoin Macken (Stumptown, The Forest, The Night Shift).

RELATED: Michael Myers Returns in New Halloween Kills Teaser!

Written and directed by Brendan Muldowney (Pilgrimage), the film tells the story of Keira Woods (Cuthbert), whose daughter mysteriously vanishes in the cellar of their new house in the country. Keira soon discovers there is an ancient and powerful entity controlling their home that she will have to face or risk losing her family’s souls forever.

“I’m very excited to be working with such a talented cast and crew to bring the world of The Cellar into people’s nightmares,” Muldowney said in a statement. 

Principal photography of the horror film set to begin in Roscommon, Ireland in November, with support from Screen Ireland, Epic Pictures, BCP Asset Management, The Wrap Fund and Wallimage, BNP Paribas Fortis Film Finance, VOO & BETV. Epic Pictures will spearhead sales for the film at this year’s American Film Market (AFM).

“Some nightmares are meant to be shared with the world,” Executive Producer Patrick Ewald of Epic Pictures said in a statement.  “The Cellar is perhaps the darkest one. The incredible combination of director Brendan Muldowney, producers Conor Barry and Richard Bolger, along with Elisha Cuthbert and Eoin Macken make this unique and riveting horror story something special to capture the attention of buyers at AFM and audiences around the world.”

RELATED: Fifth Insidious Film on the Way With Patrick Wilson Directing in Debut!

The Cellar is an Irish/Belgian co-production with Conor Barry of Savage Productions (A24’s The Hole in the Ground) and Richard Bolger of Hail Mary Pictures serving as producers.  It is co-produced with Benoit Roland from Wrong Men Films in Belgium.  Patrick Ewald of Epic Pictures, Lesley McKimm, Screen Ireland and Patrick O’Neill, Wildcard Distribution are Executive Producers on the project.  Production investment was provided by Screen Ireland, Epic Pictures, BCP Asset Management, The Western Region Audiovisual Producers Fund / WRAP Fund and Wallimage, BNP Paribas Fortis Film Finance, VOO & BETV.

(Photo Credits: Getty Images)

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BEGIN SLIDESHOW

New Plot & Visual Effects Details Revealed for The Suicide Squad

While its ensemble roster of new and returning characters has been known for a while, the story for the highly-anticipated The Suicide Squad has gone mostly unknown for months now and finally in a new interview with Empire Magazine, new details have been revealed for the latest DC Extended Universe installment. (Via SlashFilm)

RELATED: Exclusive: Joel Kinnaman Talks The Suicide Squad Comics-Based Attire

Producer Peter Safran revealed that the film will see the titular team head to a fake Latin American island named Corto Maltese, an island frequently used in the small-screen Arrowverse, and will establish the film’s overall goal for the squad as they “have to destroy a Nazi-era prison and laboratory named Jotunheim, where political prisoners were held and experimentations took place.” Gunn and Safran also revealed that the film is far bigger than the writer/director’s Guardians of the Galaxy films and implements far more practical effects than seen so far.

“It was becoming more and more bluescreen on my other movies, and it sort of bums me out a little bit to be spending three weeks on a set that is just a few painted purple rocks,” Gunn said. “But The Suicide Squad is a big film with so many practical effects. We were really building giant sets. Dan Sudick thinks he did more special effects on this movie than all the Marvel movies combined. And that really is true, because we’re crushing cars, we’re blowing up tons of stuff, we’re doing tons of squibs…we could do whatever we wanted. There are no rules in terms of sex and violence and things like that.”

Click here to purchase the 2016 first outing of the antihero team!

As we already know, Davis, Robbie, Courtney, and Kinnaman will all play the same roles they had in the 2016 film, reprising as Amanda Waller, Harley Quinn, Captain Boomerang, and Rick Flag, respectively. Michael Rooker will play Savant, Flula Borg will play Javelin, David Dastmalchian will play Polka Dot Man, Daniela Melchior will play Ratcatcher 2, Idris Elba will play Bloodsport, Mayling NG will play Mongal, Peter Capaldi will play Thinker, Alice Braga will play Solsoria, Pete Davidson will play Blackguard, Natha Fillion will play TDK, Sean Gunn will play Weasel, John Cena will play Peace Maker and Steve Agee will play King Shark.

RELATED: Wonder Woman 1984 DC FanDome Trailer Reveals Cheetah!

The movie is written and directed by Gunn. Charles Roven and Peter Safran will serve as producers. Nik Korda is executive producing the movie.

The Suicide Squad will hit theaters on August 6, 2021!

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Mads Mikkelsen & Armie Hammer to lead Billion Dollar Spy

After dipping their toes into the spy world with Casino Royale and The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Mads Mikkelsen and Armie Hammer are returning to the world of covert deception as they’ve signed on to star in the cold War thriller The Billion Dollar Spy, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

RELATED: Jennifer Lopez & Armie Hammer to Lead Lionsgate’s Shotgun Wedding

Based on a true story, the film centers on Brad Reid (Hammer), a new face at the CIA’s Moscow station as he is approached by Soviet engineer Adolf Tolkachev (Mikkelsen) and chooses to ignore the advice from his bosses that he’s a KGB “dangle” and develops a unique bond and friendship with the Russian, who seemingly only hopes to help his family escape the Soviet Union’s corruption.

The film is set to be directed by Amma Asante (A United Kingdom, The Handmaid’s Tale) with script coming from Benjamin August (Class Rank, Remember) from heavily-detailed research by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist David E. Hoffman, who drew upon previously classified CIA documents and interviews to compile the story. The film will be developed and produced by Walden Media alongside Oscar and Golden Globe winner Akiva Goldsman (A Beautiful Mind) and Greg Lessans via Weed Road Pictures, while Walden Media’s President and CEO Frank Smith and Executive Vice President of Development and Production Naia Cucukov will executive produce.

“We are incredibly excited to take on this cold war thriller, a departure from Walden’s usual cannon, to bring this mysterious world to life,” Smith said in a statement. “We are honoured to work with talents Mads Mikkelsen and Armie Hammer with Amma Asante at the helm, on a story that showcases how one person can change the world.”

RELATED: Mads Mikkelsen Joins Alexander Payne’s Next Project at Netflix

HanWay films has also joined the project to handle its international sales and distribution and will introduce the project at the forthcoming virtual American Film Market, while CAA Media Finance and Endeavor Content will oversee the U.S. sale.

“August has brilliantly mined Hoffman’s detailed account of the Billion Dollar Spy and delivered a screenplay that will thrill all the fans of analog spycraft,” HanWay Films managing director Gabrielle Stewart said in a statement. “At the same time we are going to inhabit the contrasting personal lives of our two spies: the personal challenges and the impact their world changing activities have on their marriages, their families and their own psyches. Asante’s imprint is right here, and along with her very talented actors, she has the opportunity to give us a completely fresh and multi-layered perspective on the Cold War thriller.”

An early 2021 production start date for The Billion Dollar Spy is being eyed in Eastern Europe.

(Photo Credits: Getty Images)

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CS Interview: Beck & Woods on Haunt Collector’s Edition, Quibi & 65!

ComingSoon.net had the chance to speak with filmmakers Scott Beck and Bryan Woods about the Haunt Collector’s Edition two-disc set available now on Blu-ray from Ronin Flix in partnership with Momentum Pictures. The co-writers of A Quiet Place also briefly discussed their experience collaborating on Quibi’s 50 States of Fright with Sam Raimi as well as their upcoming project 65 starring Adam Driver. You can check out the interview below, along with more details about the Collector’s Edition as well as the Blu-ray covers in the gallery, and order your copy of the Haunt Collector’s Edition here!

RELATED: CS Guide to the Best New Horror Movies & TV Shows to Stream This Halloween!

In Haunt, a group of friends encounter an “extreme” haunted house on Halloween that promises to feed on their darkest fears. The night turns deadly as they come to the horrifying realization that some nightmares are very real.

Directed and written by Beck and Woods, the 2019 horror movie stars Katie Stevens, Will Brittain, Lauryn Alisa McClain, and Andrew Lewis Caldwell, and was produced by Eli Roth.

The commemorative two-disc set will treat fans to the Original CD Soundtrack by tomandandy, four 16” x 20” movie poster reproductions, a 16” x 20” reproduction of the haunt map, six enamel pins featuring the eerie costume masks worn by the villains in the film, four 2” x 3 ½” replica VHS box-style magnets, and over five hours of special features including a new To Escape the Haunt: The Making of Haunt featurette. A single-disc version will also be available.

Special Features Include:

• NEW To Escape the Haunt: The Making of Haunt featurette including interviews with writers/directors Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, actors Katie Stevens, Will Brittain, Andrew Lewis Caldwell, Lauryn Alisa McClain, Schuyler Helford, Justin Marxen, Chaney Morrow, Special Makeup Effects artist Chris Bridges, and co-composer Andy Milburn (tomandandy)
• NEW Audio Commentary with actors Justin Marxen (Clown), Chaney Morrow (Ghost), and Damian Maffei (Devil)
• Audio Commentary with writers/directors Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, Behind the Haunt, The Sound of Haunt, Deleted Scenes with an introduction by Scott and Bryan
• Popcorn Frights Q & A with Scott, Bryan, and some of the cast
• Egyptian Theatre Premiere Q & A with Scott and Bryan, moderated by Eli Roth
• Short Film: The Sleepover – Scott and Bryan’s first film
• Director’s Diary
• Theatrical Trailer

RELATED: ComingSoon’s 2020 Halloween Gift Guide Video!

ComingSoon.net: I was just thinking like, with COVID and everything, was that challenging in the sense that did you guys just say we’re going to do all our work over Zoom? At what point were you like, oh screw it, we need to be in a room together? How’s it been working for you?

Scott Beck: Yeah, I mean, the last few months, like everybody’s life has just been such a fascinating, unexpected experience. And so, so much of our work, in general, became Zoom and became meetings. The first week the pandemic hit in LA, we were pitching a movie and on Monday it was in person, by Friday it was all virtual. And you know, luckily for writing, that’s bee’s knees, but when you start moving into pre-production for a movie, it gets a little more difficult and we’re in prep right now and we’re on the ground in Louisiana now socially distancing with multitudes of other people. But for this new Blu-ray for Haunt that was really fascinating because everybody was kind of spread across the country. Nobody was leaving their house and it just recontextualized how you put together a Blu-ray, how you put together special features. And it was a challenge, but a fun challenge I think everybody was willing to figure out and find a way to, you know, put forth the most amount of effort and hopefully pack this disc with a lot of goodies.

CS: Yeah, I’m looking at it right now. There’s a magnet. There are these beautiful pins that you had designed. There’s some posters. And there’s the map. Now is this map actually something that you guys put together in pre-pro or is this just done for the package?

Bryan Woods: It’s the in-picture map that our production designer Austin Gorg hand drew it originally. It basically reflects what the villain of the movie would’ve used to kind of draw their plans of how the different haunted houses would fuse together. And even though when we’re filming, all the stunts are kind of broken up into pieces, the haunted house didn’t actually connect in terms of like, it being a set. But each set was designed in a way that could actually connect and be put together as a haunted house and actually work. So the fun of including the map is just to show that, one day, it would be fun to actually put this up and do a real haunted house with the haunts from Haunt.

CS: Yeah, and it’s always fun to get to talk to people sort of after the fact. The movie came out last year and I’m just wondering what kind of audience feedback did you guys get? Have you been able to connect with fans and people who saw the film?

Beck: It’s incredibly surreal to take a look back a year later. When the movie came out, it was funny, it came out on Friday the 13th, but it was still a fairly limited release with the theatrical release and very much a word of mouth film. And now we’re seeing people this Halloween creating their own masks inspired by Haunt, their own costumes. The film got a release in Japan, where they created this haunted house of sorts based on all the rooms in the film. And so, we just kind of sit back and I think our jaws are kind of like wide open at how the film has kind of gathered this cult following. And all that does is it makes us think of when we were in high school and discovering some of our favorite films to this very day, whether it’s something like Fight Club or Donnie Darko and movies that didn’t ultimately find a gathering from the get-go, but it kind of trickles through the bloodstream of people who are fans of the genre or people who are fans of the film. We just feel very, very fortunate that the movie has been praised the way it has.

Woods: And we’re not comparing our movie in any way to those, those are masterpieces, but I think Scott mentioned those because they’re such great DVD discs. We’re just such diehard fans of like, physical media. Even if a movie we don’t like comes out with a cool set and there’s some thought put into the features, we’re the first ones to snatch it up and devour it. We’re just fans of that kind of medium and a company like Ronin Flix took on Haunt, it’s just exciting that they have as much passion as we do about physical media for movies. It’s like the souvenir of the movie you can buy or collect a DVD for something, so it’s really fun for us to put together this set.

CS: Yeah. I mean, you’re preaching to the choir here because I write a weekly Blu-ray column, and I definitely still collect physical media. And yeah, it’s hard to explain to some people. I remember there was recently in an episode of Queer Eye where they were in this guy’s house and they were doing a makeover on him or whatever and they saw he had a shelf full of DVDs. And they’re like, ugh, hasn’t he heard of streaming? And I was like, number one, f*ck you. Number two, yeah. Physical media, yeah, it takes up space and all this stuff, but it’s like, if you’re a fan of how a movie looks and sounds, it’s never going to look and sound better than playing from a disc.

Beck: Exactly. I mean, there’s also an extension of the art form, there’s the art form where you pop in a disc and you’re actually watching the DVD, but I think there’s also the art form in terms of the aesthetics of what’s on the disc. And again going back first to the Fight Club DVD, that was something where automatically you hold it in your hand, but it feels like it’s built with care and precision. And I think that’s always what draws us back to putting our 2,000 Blu-rays and DVDs that we own and putting that on a shelf. There’s just something really beautiful about that and it’s fun to place it at that culture, and that’s something that certainly in designing these discs. We’re just putting ourselves in the shoes of anybody who will need to spend money on a Blu-ray, you want something that feels special and unique. That was always our hope and goal.

CS: Yeah. And sort of speaking to the ephemeral nature of streaming, we just had Quibi fall apart. And I was wondering if you guys had any sort of perspective about your experience with that streamer?

Woods: Well, I mean, we’re sorry to hear the news just because they were creating a lot of content and empowering artists. Like, our experience with Quibi doing 50 States of Fright was an incredible experience. We had a lot of freedom to tell our story. We got to work with Sam Raimi, who we’re now working with on our feature film that we’re doing right now. And so, that was an incredible opportunity for us to work with Sam and create something that, in that case, we did an episode of 50 States of Fright that’s based on our home state of Iowa. I don’t know, it was an amazing opportunity for us, it was an amazing opportunity for a lot of artists to get new stories out there in a new form. So on some level, the news is disappointing, but obviously, a lot of challenges, both with the pandemic, but also conceptually in whatever else.

Beck: I think ultimately, our hope is for certain shows, to use 50 States of Fright as an example, is that there could be a second life for them, you know, whether it’s Netflix or more of the specialty platforms like Shudder that gears towards the horror genre, that there’s a way to continue something like that. Also, when you have a show called 50 States of Fright it feels like a disappointment if you don’t deliver for all 50 episodes of what that premise promises. So we’re still rooting from afar for things like that.

CS: So, I love Adam Driver, love his work, but what drew you to him specifically for this new thing, 65, that you’re directing for Sam Raimi?

Woods: Well, our first taste of Adam was the TV show Girls. And his role on that, we love that series, in general, it’s one of our favorites and we’re big Lena Dunham fans here. But, in particular, his role and his performance on that show was so explosive. It was just like, who is this guy? It was hard to comprehend- you never knew what he was going to do next. He kind of constantly surprised us throughout that series, and that was very exciting.

But then, he went and he tried to capture that same magic and turn it into a career. In other words, the choices he made as an actor in terms of what roles Adam took on in something he would work with, it was like that big energy of like, wow, I don’t know he’s gonna do next. What is this guy? And the fact that even last year, jumping from his incredible performance in a Star Wars movie of all things, and then an intimate character in something like Marriage Story and kind of turning in our favorite two performances of that year, we’ve just always been blown away by his work. It just speaks for itself. I don’t really know if I can articulate why this works so much and it just seems pretty obvious once you watch it.

CS: Yeah. How is the scale of 65 different than what you were doing on Haunt?

Beck: Well, that’s a fascinating jump because we can’t really say much about it other than it’s a much bigger canvas movie. I mean, obviously, it’s a studio film versus Haunt, which was an independent film. But I think what’s kind of a binding feature is there’s always a mystery box element that we’re always intrigued by. The promise that there’s going to be something in it for audiences to really dig into, but there’s going to be much more that meets the eye. And part of the joy of creating a film like 65, similar to like when before A Quiet Place was even known by anybody else, was there’s a mystery behind it. And to that, as moviegoers, we love that. We love when you watch a teaser and it does only tease you and it doesn’t give you much more than that, but it gives you enough of a hook.

So this whole film is kind of designed with maintaining that experience as much as possible. But certainly, on a canvas, it’s a big canvas movie. We just feel very fortunate to be able to get it up and running in production in this time where not many movies really get made, especially original movies.

CS: No, absolutely not. And one of the reasons I loved talking to you guys is how dedicated you are to making sure your career doesn’t go down the path of doing IPs and sequels and stuff. But in terms of sequels, did you guys get to see A Quiet Place 2?

Woods: It’s kind of funny. We were taking this project, 65 out, as Scott said earlier, I think, the week that happened, basically, the week of the pandemic. And we were at Paramount. And we were talking about the sequel and there was a screening coming up for us and the movie was like, I think it was two weeks out from release. And on a Wednesday it was like, talking to everyone at Paramount and everybody was kind of like tracking, saying, “We think we’re gonna be okay, and we’re not really sure, but we’re on track.” And then a day later, they pulled it from release. And so anyway, that’s a long-winded way of saying we actually didn’t get to see it. It was like quarantine after that. But we heard it’s good. We heard from a lot of the collaborators on it that, you know, everyone’s very excited about that.

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Awkwafina & Sandra Oh to lead untitled Netflix comedy

As the two are coming off of Golden Globe wins, Awkwafina (The Farewell, Crazy Rich Asians) and Sandra Oh (Killing Eve, Over the Moon) are teaming up to lead an untitled Netflix comedy in which the two will play sisters.

RELATED: Shelly: Amazon Studios Acquires Awkwafina & Karen Gillan Action Comedy

The official logline for the project reads as follows:

A lonely recluse’s life is upended when her train wreck of a sister vows to mend their relationship by helping her fulfill her lifelong dream: to be a contestant on her favorite game show.

Though no director is currently attached to the feature, the script for the film is penned by Jen D’Angelo, who recently wrote the script for Disney+’s upcoming Hocus Pocus sequel while also having worked on Hulu’s Solar Opposites, Comedy Central’s The Millers and as co-executive producer on the upcoming NBC series The Young Rock starring Dwayne Johnson (Jumanji: The Next Level) and chronicling his early life.

In addition to starring, Awkwafina and Oh. will produce the project alongside Jessica Elbaum and Will Ferrell for Gloria Sanchez Productions, Itay Reiss and Maggie Haskins from Artists First and D’Angelo.

RELATED: Sandra Oh To Lead Sam Raimi-Produced Horror Umma

Oh recently landed her 12th Emmy nomination for her work as lead actress and co-executive producer on the hit BBC black comedy series Killing Eve and recently worked with Netflix for the animated fantasy musical adventure Over the Moon, which has received generally positive reviews from critics since its premiere on October 23.

Awkwafina is just coming off of her Golden Globe victory for her lead role in the acclaimed dramedy The Farewell and was also most recently seen in Jumanji: The Next Level and Comedy Central’s Awkwafina is Nora From Queens, which was renewed for a second season.

(Photo Credit: Michael Kovac/WireImage)

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Michael Myers returns in new Halloween Kills teaser!

As part of the production studio’s virtual event BlumFest, Blumhouse Productions and Universal Pictures has revealed a new teaser for the highly-anticipated Halloween Kills showing Michael Myers’ bloody return to the screen! The teaser can be viewed below!

RELATED: John Carpenter Calls Halloween Kills ‘The Quintessential Slasher Film’

Next Halloween Kills. #HalloweenMovie pic.twitter.com/uBVpPnczxu

— Blumhouse (@blumhouse) October 29, 2020

In the upcoming sequel, Haddonfield Memorial Hospital will be returning to the new canon with Anthony Michael Hall set to play Tommy Doyle, who first appeared as a child in the original Halloween movie as one of the kids Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) was babysitting. The adult version of the character was previously played by Paul Rudd in The Curse of Michael Myers, the sixth movie of the original storyline. The new universe avoids those sequels, however, as the 2018 movie picks up the narrative after the 1978 film.

Buy the original Halloween film here!

Nancy Stephens’ Nurse Marion is also set to return for Kills with Robert Longstreet as Lonnie Elam (the young bully in the original film) and Kyle Richards as Lindsey Wallace, reprising her role from the 1978 original. It was also previously announced that Halloween filmmaker and composer John Carpenter will be composing the score for both Halloween Kills and Halloween Ends.

John Carpenter will be providing the music for both sequels. David Gordon Green returns direct and co-wrote the script with Danny McBride (The Righteous Gemstones) and Scott Teems. Halloween Ends will be released on Friday, October 14, 2022, which Green will also direct and co-write, this time with Danny McBride, Paul Brad Logan, and Chris Bernier.

RELATED: New Halloween Kills Teaser Released by John Carpenter!

Both films are based on characters created by John Carpenter and Debra Hill and will be produced by Malek Akkad, Jason Blum, and Bill Block. Carpenter, McBride, Green executive produce alongside star Jamie Lee Curtis, and Ryan Freimann.

Released to critical acclaim and huge box office success, 2018’s Halloween brought in over $250 million at the worldwide box office, making it the highest-grossing slasher film of all time.

The sequel hits theaters October 15, 2021.

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Marc Forster tapped to helm Lionsgate’s White Bird: A Wonder Story

After producing the acclaimed 2017 adaptation of R.J. Palacio’s 2012 children’s novel, Lionsgate has announced it is developing an adaptation of the companion graphic novel White Bird: A Wonder Story and has tapped Golden Globe nominee Marc Forster (Christopher Robin) to direct the project.

RELATED: Lionsgate Lands Victoria Mahoney to Helm Shadow Force

Based on Palacio’s 2019 graphic novel, the story centers on Julian Albans, the 11-year-old bully who left Beecher Prep, who is still waiting for the insight of how kindness has the power to save lives when he is visited by his Grandmère from Paris and is transformed by her remarkable story of compassion and courage. Grandmère’s fairy-tale life before the war abruptly changes as the Nazis occupy France, and the outcast classmate who she once shunned becomes her savior and best friend.

Click here to purchase Palacio’s 2017 graphic novel!

The script for the adaptation is being penned by Mark Bomback (The Art of Racing in the Rain, War for the Planet of the Apes), with the film set to be produced by Mandeville Films’ David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman, who produced the original film, alongside Palacio, with Renée Wolfe attached to executive produce with Alex Young.

“Wonder connected with audiences who responded to its message of kindness and empathy, of looking past the surface to the person underneath,” Nathan Kahane, President of the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, said in a statement. “Now more than ever, we need stories that champion compassion for others, and R.J. Palacio’s graphic novel White Bird builds on those themes. To direct the adaptation, Marc Forster brings not only mastery of his craft but a tender heart and gentle vision for a story of people finding connections between each other even in the most trying situations.”

RELATED: Jennifer Lopez & Armie Hammer to Lead Lionsgate’s Shotgun Wedding

Wonder, directed by author-turned-filmmaker Stephen Chbosky (The Perks of Being a Wallflower), starred Owen Wilson (Loki), Julia Roberts (Homecoming) and Jacob Tremblay (The Little Mermaid) and received rave reviews from critics and audiences alike and was a box office hit for the studio, grossing over $305 million at the global box office on a $20 million budget.

(Photo Credit: Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

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