EXCLUSIVE: Here’s a novel package that should generate some heat in the cold of Berlin’s EFM next week.
Black Bear is launching Bad Boy, a new breed of genre film that charts a young woman’s fight to escape a deadly serial killer through the eyes of man’s best friend, his faithful dog. There have been plenty of kids films and some dramas told from an animal’s perspective, but not many horror films.
From the producer of Longlegs, Dave Caplan, and M3gan, Divide/Conquer’s Adam Hendricks and Greg Gilreath, the film is set to star Oscar-winner Ke Huy Quan (Everything Everywhere All At Once) and Lili Reinhart (Hustlers). Genre director Jacob Chase (Come Play, The Girl In The Woods) will direct Travis Braun’s Black List-topping script. Dave Caplan’s company C2 will also fully finance. Filming is due to start in August in Canada.
Casting is in process for the dog, which we hear will be a Terrier.
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Black Bear previously sold box office breakout Longlegs and has anticipated horror Monkey on deck. Genre is increasingly prevalent at all the film markets as big-budget packages become more scarce and this is the type of project that could stand out from the pack.
Black Bear is repping international rights. CAA Media Finance and UTA Independent Film Group rep domestic.
Here’s the fun synopsis: “Gary is a good boy who loves his new owner, Cameron (Ke Huy Quan). He gets treats and belly rubs and life is great. Gary isn’t allowed in the basement though. And even if he was, he can’t unlock doors. But there’s a girl (Lili Reinhart) in the basement. And she can’t come out to play. Gary doesn’t know it, but he’s her only chance.”
“I love dogs. More than people. And I’m tired of seeing horror movies where the dog is the first one to die!” said director Chase “They’re not just pets, they’re our best friends, and I believe it’s time for a horror film where the dog is the hero. Bad Boy is about loyalty, instinct, and the incredible bond between humans and dogs. It’s going to be a highly original, grounded, deeply suspenseful fresh take on a horror thriller. And I’m thrilled to collaborate with Ke and Lili on two roles unlike anything they’ve played before.”
Everything Everywhere All at Once star Ke Huy Quan recently starred in season two of Marvel’s Disney+ series, Loki, for which he was nominated for a Critics Choice Award. Next, he will lead Universal’s action-comedy Love Hurts, followed by roles in Netflix’s The Electric State and the leading role in Lionsgate’s Fairytale in New York.
Reinhart is best known for her breakout role as Betty Cooper on the popular CW series Riverdale, as well as her performance in Hustlers. She is currently starring alongside Mark Ruffalo in writer-director Cooper Raiff’s limited series Hal & Harper, which had its world premiere at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.
Braun is the first writer to reach #1 on the Black List two years in a row. One Night Only is being produced by Olive Bridge, while Lord & Miller are producing Dying for You, which also made the list in 2022. On the TV side, Braun is currently in an overall deal at Disney.
Jacob Chase is represented by CAA, Affirmative Entertainment, and Gang, Tyre. Travis Braun is represented by UTA, Echo Lake Entertainment, and Gang, Tyre. Ke Huy Quan is represented by WME, and Cohen & Gardner. Lili Reinhart is represented by UTA, Anonymous Content, and Peikoff Mahan Law Office.
The post Ke Huy Quan & Lili Reinhart To Star In New Breed Of Horror Film, ‘Bad Boy’, From ‘Longlegs’ & ‘M3gan’ Producers; Black Bear Launching Hot EFM Package appeared first on Deadline.
