News

Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl Champ Marshawn Lynch (Bottoms), Mustafa Shakir, Cam Gigandet, André Eriksen, and Lio Tipton are boarding 87North and Universal’s original action movie With Love.

They join previously cast Oscar winner winners Ke Huy Quan and Ariana DeBose, as well as Daniel Wu in the pic set for release on Feb. 7, 2025. For Quan, it’s his first major leading man role post Everything, Everywhere All at Once.

The movie hails from vet stunt and fight coordinator Jonathan Eusebio who is making his feature directorial debut. Eusebio’s credits include Black Panther, The Avengers, the John Wick films, The Matrix Resurrections, Violent Night, Deadpool 2, The Fate of the Furious, Doctor Strange, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Wolverine, The Bourne Legacy and 87North’s upcoming summer kickoff title,...

If Hollywood writers go on strike — a possibility as we close in on the May 1 deadline without a new deal between the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) — the impact will be felt far beyond New York and Los Angeles. Around the world, producers and distribution companies, not to mention non-wga affiliated writers, are closely watching the ongoing negotiations, with an expectation that a WGA walkout could mean a boost in demand for new international content.

“As with previous WGA strikes, we’d expect there will be an increased demand for content from outside the U.S., particularly from English-speaking countries like the U.K. and Australia,” says Martin Moszkowicz and Oliver Berben of German mini-major Constantin Film, producers of the English-language Resident Evil horror franchise as well as German films and series including We Children From Bahnhof Zoo, which streams on Amazon,...

As part of his 2023 Romford Horror Film Festival coverage, Kevin sits down and chats to actress Ayvianna Snow about how she made it into the industry, collaborating with local filmmakers and what is next for Ayvianna.

Ayvianna trained at the Arden School of Theatre and Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. She has a supporting role in ‘White Colour Black’ which screened at the BFI London Film Festival 2016 and was nominated for a British Independent Film Award. The film became available on Curzon Home Cinema and had a virtual cinema release in March 2021. She has a lead role in feature ‘Black Lake’ which won Best Cinematography at the Women in Horror Film Festival in Atlanta in 2020. It also screened at Montreal FearFest, ShockFest and Salem Horror Fest 2020. The film had a digital release on the CineExcess Digital Film Channel and Amazon Prime in March 2021. ‘The Tombs’ was released in...

As mentioned recently Here, Reel Horror is in pre-production for its first fully funded short film Witch Trial.

Reel Horror is a brand new Horror Film company working with specific emphasis on inclusivity, empowerment and open dialogue with all our actors and crew onset. Reel Horror feels the atmosphere created onset with the team directly correlates to the quality of content they are able to create and deliver to audiences.

We now have news that the enigmatic Ayvianna Snow has joined the cast and will be playing the lead role of Isobel Gowdie.

Ayvianna joins the crew for Witch Trial and will work with Eve Oliver and Anna Dixon who are both co-directing/producing this short film.

Reel Horror had this to say about the recent casting:

‘We are especially honoured to have Ayvianna on board with “Witch Trial”, she’s an incredibly talented actress, with an impressive number of credits under her belt.

“Fitness advice, gig economy, binge watching Danish crime series, sustainability, sex when the kids watch cartoons, mobile bank ID, personal development 5:2 diet, anti-aging cream, Adobe updates, climate friendly travel, body activism,” Anders rants quietly to the camera, as he walks from his car to home in the equivalent of white picket fence Sweden at the beginning of Swedish Discovery Plus Original “Gotebia,” a half-hour dramedic psychological thriller.

“Exterior renovations, Roblox, mini Rodini hats, dinners from Fedora. Shared family calendar. Find us-time, life with kids, drainage pipes, hot yoga, performance review, changing the plumbing, pub crawls, doggy day care,” he goes on.

43, Anders is out of his depth at work where his company’s motivational speakers are no longer found in the newspaper or on TV but on YouTube, TikTok, Snap and Instagram. And suffering to keep up with the Joneses – in this case tennis player and neighbor Martin’s...

Viaplay Strikes Mega Banijay Scripted Deal On Eve Of U.S. Launch

Ahead of its U.S. launch, Nent-owned Scandi streamer Viaplay has struck a mega deal with Banijay Rights for 250 hours worth of premium scripted Nordic content. Viaplay subs in the U.S. will have access to the likes of Norwegian culture-clash comedy Countrymen, Swedish high-school drama series A Class Apart and two eight-part series of Black Lake, along with the first two runs of Wallander and Wallander UK. Viaplay will launch towards the end of this month in the U.S. before rolling out in several European territories next year in an expansion bid. Banijay Rights’ Matt Creasey, who brokered the deal, said it will “become a cornerstone of Viaplay’s launch in the U.S.”

Firebird Pictures Signs Duo And Options Two Novels

Bodyguard exec Elizabeth Kilgarriff’s UK drama indie Firebird Pictures has hired a Director of Production and Development Executive,...

Banijay Rights has signed a package deal with Nordic Entertainment Group (Nent Group) ahead of the launch of its Viaplay streaming service in the U.S. on Dec. 15.

The deal will give Viaplay subscribers in the US access to a dozen of premium scripted titles from Banijay Rights’ hit Nordic drama titles, including Norwegian culture-clash comedy “Countrymen” which won two prizes at Canneseries last month, and “A Class Apart,” a drama series from Banijay Swedish label Jarowskij.

“A Class Appart” is set at Sweden’s top ranked boarding high school which is home to a secret society for the most affluent students, the Zebra Club. “Countrymen” sees four men with dubious plans move to a farm in the rural Norwegian countryside where, more or less against their will, they end up as the founders of Norway’s first halal cheesemaking business. The series is produced by Banijay Norwegian label Rubicon for public broadcaster Nrk i,...

Anders Jensen, president and CEO of Nordic Entertainment Group, has been selected to receive the Variety Vanguard Award for contributions to the global television business.

Jensen will be feted on Oct. 11 at the global content conference and market, which runs Oct. 8 to Oct. 13. Nordic Entertainment Group (Nent) has become one of Scandinavia’s most prominent media companies. Jensen has been president and CEO of the group since April 2018.

Nent has been active in the streaming arena through its subscription service Viaplay and its advertising-supported service Viafree. The company was spun off of Modern Times Group in 2018 and began trading separately on the Nasdaq Stockholm in March 2019.

“Nordic Entertainment Group is among the most dynamic media companies in Europe and its success is helping to drive the growth of the global content marketplace,” said Michelle Sobrino-Stearns, president and group publisher of Variety. “We’re pleased to recognize Anders Jensen and his...

In early 2019, we brought you the exclusive trailer premiere of Black Lake, and we're happy to share with Daily Dead readers the brand new trailer from K/XI's Maya! Tackling sociopolitical topics through a story of jinn possession, Maya was shot entirely in Pakistan and in the Urdu language:

"After a childhood incident leaves her without any memories, Maya is adopted by an elderly couple, along with another orphan, Kalika, who she forms a sisterly bond with. Through feverish nightmares and unsettling events, Maya travels to Karachi and rediscovers her traumatic childhood through the grips of jinn (demonic) possession.

'Maya' focuses on themes including cultural and social issues, religion, mental health, and the supernatural. It also has a strong focus on the representation of women in Pakistan."

Written, directed and produced by: K/XI Starring: Madiha Hidayat, Ramsha Shaikh, K/XI Sound Design by: Tatsujiro Oto Colourist: Laura Pavone...

AMC Networks has bought for its streaming service Acorn TV, the U.S., U.K. and Canadian rights to the six-part Swedish series “Bäckström,” produced by the Scandi powerhouse Yellow Bird. The deal was brokered by global distributor Banijay Rights.

“Bäckstrom” is set to launch Feb. 8 in the U.K. and later this spring in North America.

The series is based on best-selling crime author Leif G.W. Persson’s novel “Can You Die Twice,” adapted for the screen by Jonathan Sjöberg (“Black Lake”), who also serves as concept director. Kjell Berqvist (“Spring Tide”) plays the titular character, the rebellious and divisive detective Evert Bäckström, famous for his crime-solving flair. His talent, however, is put to test when a bullet ridden skull is found in the Swedish archipelago, and DNA-results confirm it belongs to a victim of Thailand’s 2004 tsunami.

The six-part crime show had one of the most successful launches...

While the Covid-19 pandemic may be preventing horror fans from gathering in large groups, that's not stopping Salem Horror Fest from announcing a star-studded, eclectic first wave of programming for this year's virtual edition taking place this October, including guest of honor Joe Dante, who will participate in online reunions for The Howling and Gremlins 2: The New Batch:

Press Release: [Salem, Ma * August 27, 2020] – The world may be a dumpster fire, but the Salem Horror Fest is determined to keep the Halloween spirit alive by encouraging horror fans to stay home, be safe, and support independent filmmakers, horror creators, and academics from the comfort of their couch.

The festival will be hosted on a customized streaming platform that works on all browsers and can be easily casted to the television and streaming devices. Guests who purchase an All Access membership will receive a Salem Horror Fest face mask, and will receive priority...

Germany’s Beta Film, a prime mover of this and next week’s virtual TV marketplace, has sold “Cryptid,” produced by Dramacorp for the Nordic Entertainment Group’s Viaplay Svod service, to Joyn, the new German Avod venture launched in 2019 by Discovery and ProSiebenSat.1.

Underscoring how regional and big national streaming services are now energizing production and distribution in Europe, the sale also marks a first cornerstone licensing pact on “Cryptid” which in its high-school Ya horror tropes and comic book aesthetics, plus short format narrative, aims to break new ground in Europe.

The series is also eliciting “strong interest from other big European territories,” said Beta Film’s Justus Riesenkampff.

“Cryptid” is also the first project within a new specialized pan-European genre production brand which Dramacorp is launching later this year. Currently in final post-production, which is continuing under Dramacorp founder Patrick Nebout despite Covid-19, “Cryptid” will world premiere in competition,...

GÖTEBORG, Sweden — Swedish prodco Dramacorp has signed with U.K. scribe Michael Robert Johnson for the English-language supernatural thriller “Heritage” (a working title).

Co-writers are Göteborg-based Morgan Jensen and Theo Gabay. The show, in early development, deals with modern elitism and hereditary. In it, a young female teacher, Evelyn Hemmings, is caught right in the midst of a brutal ritual murder at a prestigious U.K. boarding school in the wilds of Scotland, where the children of the elite study. There is a cover up since national security is at stake. During her private investigation, she realizes that disturbing and ancient dark forces are at play and that the murder has both highly political and occult interests.

Dramacorp’s creative director/executive producer Henrik Jansson-Schweizer said: “We are extremely excited to have an international A-list writer as Michael Robert Johnson, teaming up with some of the most skilled writing talent...

If you don't like what you find under the tree or in your stockings this year, don't despair, because Shudder is giving the gift of eclectic entertainment this December with a long list of horror titles for those who have been naughty and nice.

Shudder has both old and new horror films for viewers in the Us to enjoy this December, including Joel Schumacher's The Lost Boys and a trio of Wes Craven movies to unwrap.

The streaming service will also be host to the previously announced Joe Bob's Red Christmas movie marathon, and they'll be adding the killer season's greetings of Silent Night, Deadly Night Part 2 and Deadly Games (making its streaming premiere).

On December 16th, Smoke and Mirrors: The Story of Tom Savini will make its streaming debut on Shudder as a special gift to fans of the special effects guru, featuring a long list of interviewees including the late,...

A new take on a legendary creature, Momo: The Missouri Monster is coming to DVD and VOD on September 20th, and ahead of its release, we've been provided with an exclusive clip to share with Daily Dead readers.

Below, you can watch hunters encounter "the smell of death" in our exclusive clip from Momo: The Missouri Monster, and we also have the official press release with additional details:

Previous Press Release: "Small Town Monsters has announced the September 20th DVD and VOD release of Seth Breedlove's docudrama Momo: The Missouri Monster. The latest title to crawl forth from the production powerhouse behind last year's best-selling documentary On the Trail of Bigfoot, Momo: The Missouri Monster seeks to tell the true and truly strange story of the Missouri Monster. The hair-covered, three-toed monstrosity was said to have prowled the forests of Star Hill, near Louisiana, Missouri during the summer of...

Small Town Monsters has announced the September 20th DVD and VOD release of Seth Breedlove’s docudrama Momo: The Missouri Monster. The latest title to crawl forth from the production powerhouse behind last year’s best-selling documentary On the Trail of Bigfoot, Momo: The Missouri Monster seeks to tell the true, and truly strange story of the Missouri Monster. The hair-covered, three-toed monstrosity was said to have prowled the forests of Star Hill, near Louisiana, Missouri during the summer of 1972 where it was spotted by terrified citizens for weeks. The film will be available nationwide on DVD, as well as Vimeo OnDemand, Amazon Instant Video, and Vidi Space.

The case gained national media attention during the ’70s and remains one of the largest tourist draws for the tiny town on the banks of the Mississippi River. The latest release from Small Town Monsters and director Seth Breedlove, Momo: The Missouri...

Valter Skarsgard has nabbed the lead role in the supernatural thriller Don't Click from director G-Hey Kim and producer Vortex Words + Pictures.

The son of Stellan Skarsgard and younger brother of fellow actors Alexander and Bill Skarsgard earlier starred in the Swedish feature Lords of Chaos, director Jonas Akerlund’s biopic about the notorious Norwegian black metal band Mayhem, as well as in the Swedish TV drama Black Lake.

Don't Click, which will shoot in Hamilton, Ontario, in May is penned by Courtney Ellum and also stars Mark Koufos and Catherine Howard.

Skarsgard will play Josh, who discovers his ...

Valter Skarsgard has nabbed the lead role in the supernatural thriller Don't Click from director G-Hey Kim and producer Vortex Words + Pictures.

The son of Stellan Skarsgard and younger brother of fellow actors Alexander and Bill Skarsgard earlier starred in the Swedish feature Lords of Chaos, director Jonas Akerlund’s biopic about the notorious Norwegian black metal band Mayhem, as well as in the Swedish TV drama Black Lake.

Don't Click, which will shoot in Hamilton, Ontario, in May is penned by Courtney Ellum and also stars Mark Koufos and Catherine Howard.

Skarsgard will play Josh, who discovers his ...

Lionsgate Television has acquired the U.S. remake rights to “Veni Vidi Vici,” the hit Swedish comedy series about a struggling film director who decides to take a job in the adult entertainment industry and starts to live a double life

The 10-part show was created for Nordic Entertainment Group’s Viaplay streaming service and has been picked up in key territories, including in the U.S. by Hulu and in Australia by Sbs. Co-writer, director and star Rafael Edholm is on board to help develop the U.S. adaptation.

The remake is also being developed by Fredrik Lundberg for HandsUp Sthlm, together with Kim Magnusson (“I Kill Giants”) and Madwood Studios’ Michael Flutie (“Westside”), for both the U.S. and international markets.

Nordic Entertainment (Nent) Group has a longstanding relationship with Lionsgate Television, as the U.S. company is handling the worldwide sales of Nent Group’s original productions “Swedish Dicks,...

An unsuspecting young painter becomes the target of a Churail in Black Lake, the upcoming indie horror film from K/XI, and we have a haunting new trailer for the film to share with Daily Dead readers.

"Looking for inspiration and to pursue her passion for Expressionist painting, Aarya, a young woman, leaves her family in the city to house-sit, in a large secluded property surrounded by beautiful Scottish landscapes. She is gifted a red scarf, sent by her aunt from her recent travels to Pakistan, and is haunted by a Churail: a demonic and malevolent South-Asian Witch (traditionally depicted with long black hair over her face and backwards feet), and is forced to face the devastating cycles of violence the Churail brings with her."

Black Lake was written, directed, and produced by K/XI, who also stars in the film, alongside Aditi Bajpai and Ayvianna Snow. The film also...

The first trailer has been released for a new film called Lords of Chaos, which is set during the uprising of the Norwegian Black Metal scene. As you’ll see, things get completely out of control.

Lords of Chaos follows a teenager’s quest to launch Norwegian Black Metal in Oslo in the 1980s and it results in a very violent outcome. This is the true story of True Norwegian Black Metal and "its most notorious practitioners — a group of young men with a flair for publicity, church-burning, and murder: Mayhem.”

The movie was directed by Jonas Åkerlund (Polar) and it’s based on the 1998 non-fiction book of the same name written by Michael Moynihan and Didrik Søderlind.

The movie stars Rory Culkin, Emory Cohen, Sky Ferreira, Jack Kilmer, and Valter Skarsgård.

The film will open in theaters on February 8, 2019, and On Demand on February 22.

Glen Basner’s FilmNation Entertainment and Nordic Entertainment Group (Nent Group) are joining forces to launch a new U.K.-based TV company which will develop, produce and finance premium scripted TV content for global audiences.

The joint venture will operate under the FilmNation brand and is currently assembling its creative team. As both companies boast a deep knowledge of the global content marketplace and have successful track records, the new banner will work with a wide variety of U.K. studios, talents and co-financiers.

An independent film powerhouse founded by Basner 10 years ago, FilmNation has recently started focusing more on content creation, with B.O. hits such as “Arrival” and “The Big Sick,” and has a flurry of high-profile TV projects in the pipeline, notably “I Know This Much Is True” (currently in pre-production) starring Mark Ruffalo for HBO, and “Feminist Fight Club” and “The House of the Spirits” for Hulu.

Sweden’s media group Mtg has secured a credit facility of SEK1 billion ($112 million) from the Stockholm-based bank Nordea.

Mtg is also still looking to sell its 95% stake in Bulgarian commercial media group Nova and is currently in talks with several buyers. Mtg had previously made an agreement to sell Nova to Ppf Group, but the deal was not approved by Bulgaria’s anti-trust board.

Mtg will be splitting off its TV operations, including Mtg Studios and Splay Networks, into a separate entity, Nent Group (Nordic Entertainment Group), in March. Nent Group will also be listed on the stock market. The banner encompasses the TV channel TV3, the satellite TV platform Viasat and the streaming service Viaplay, as well as the production outfit Nice Entertainment and the distribution banner Drg. The banner’s original drama credits include “Veni Vidi Vici,” “Black Lake,” “Swedish Dicks” and, most recently, the fantasy thriller “Hidden.

Welcome to the latest edition of our regular crowdfunding feature here on Nerdly – Back This! – where we take a look at some of the cool content taking the crowdfunding route on sites such as Indiegogo, Sponsume and Kickstarter. This month we’re spotlighting a new animated short from the filmmaker behind the well-received Toll Booth… Black Lake.

Black Lake is a new animated short thriller project from award winners Martin Stocks and James Wren. They are currently crowdfunding through an Indiegogo campaign which will be running until May 28th. There are several perks available which you can find right here.

Synopsis:

A man wakes in a dark, foggy, beautiful, yet hostile world after causing a fatal car crash. He navigates this place, initially spellbound by its stunning ethereal nature, and its pitch-black lake with small floating stars. Dread quickly sets in as he realises the malevolent dangers lurking beneath the surface of this half-dead world.