The executives at New Line Cinema were clearly blown away by last year’s horror release Da man (watch it HERE) – which was distributed by 20th Century Studios – as they have made it very clear over the last week that they are eager to be in business with the creative team behind that film. They made an eight figure deal with writer/director Zach Cregger to ensure that his next movie – something called Vũ khí – will be a New Line Cinema project. They signed a first look deal with Da man producers BoulderLight Pictures so they will develop high concept genre properties for the company. And now The Hollywood Reporter has broken the news that New Line Cinema has put a thriller called Companion on the fast track to production, with Cregger producing alongside BoulderLight and Vertigo’s Roy Lee.
Drew Hancock wrote the screenplay for Companion, and Cregger was so impressed by it that he considered making the film his directorial follow-up to Da man. Instead, Hancock will be making his feature directorial debut with Companion while Cregger focuses on Vũ khí. All we know about Vũ khí is that it’s “tonally in the vein of Paul Thomas Anderson’s Cây mộc lan“, but that’s more than what’s being revealed about Companion. Details on this one are being kept completely under wraps.
Hancock’s previous writing credits include episodes of Supah Ninjas, Blue Mountain State, Fred: The Show, Suburgatory, Faking It, Mr. Pickles, và người yêu cũ đã chết của tôi (which he co-created), as well as the movie Fred 3: Trại Fred. While he has never directed a movie before, he has directed episodes of Acceptable TV và Jimmy Kimmel Live!, as well as a Tenacious D music video.
tôi thật sự thích Da man, but I’m still surprised at how deep New Line Cinema is diving into “the Da man business”. It reminds me of the Stephen King quote, “I have seen the future of horror and his name is Clive Barker.” In this case, New Line Cinema believes the future of horror is the people who brought us Da man.
What do you think of New Line Cinema joining forces with BoulderLight Pictures and Zach Cregger to bring us Companion and, presumably, several other genre projects? Share your thoughts on this news by leaving a comment below.
