Sony Pictures has signed Kyle Gallner to join Oscar-winning lead Brie Larson in Skeletons, the JT Mollner directed, J.J. Abrams produced horror film. The casting news was confirmed earlier this week and represents some serious genre credibility for what remains one of the most buzzed about upcoming horror projects.
Skeletons is a contemporary take on creature horror, filtered through the eyes of a young boy who will slowly learn that something disturbing is afoot with his parents, specifically his mother. Mollner will direct from a screenplay by Brian Duffield, based on the short story Fail-Safe by Philip Fracassi. Mollner also provided additional script revisions.
At the time of casting in Strange Darling, Gallner’s role was one of the highlights of the film. That performance is one of the things that put both the actor and director on the industry’s radar. The actor also appeared in Scream, Jennifer’s Body, Smile, and, surprisingly, the new A Nightmare on Elm Street remake too. Gallner has a track record that is difficult to surpass in terms of the horror genre in particular.
Sony Pictures picked up the worldwide rights to the film out of the European Film Market this year in an agreement that landed somewhere in the $25 million range. It outbid Paramount, Warner Bros., and Neon to win the package.
Skeletons
Skeletons comes from FilmNation Entertainment’s production arm, Infrared, along with Abrams’ Bad Robot Productions and Assemble Media Group. Drew Simon, Abrams, Jon Cohen and Jack Heller are producers, while Larson, Fracassi, and Duffield serve as executive producers along with Caitlin de Lisser-Ellen.
Abrams has already praised the project, telling us Duffield’s script is “an absolute powerhouse,” calling Skeletons “a horror film that is as sweet and moving as it is terrifying.”
Mollner is also working on a Texas Chainsaw Massacre TV series with A24, Exurbia Films, Spooky Pictures etc. This is a pivotal time for the director. His momentum from Strange Darling has apparently opened a good number of doors. With Gallner now in the fold along with Larson, Skeletons could be one of the most interesting horror movies of the year.
