Horror icons Robert Englund (“A Nightmare on Elm Street”) and Lin Shaye (“Insidious”) are set to star in the indie horror-thriller “The Midnight Man” from writer-director Travis Z, TheWrap has learned. The duo previously starred together in “2001 Maniacs” back in 2005.
“Midnight Man” is a co-production between top Latin American distributor Gussi Films and Zeal Media, the production/finance company launched in February by Cassian Elwes and Armory Films partners Chris Lemole and Tim Zajaros.
Elwes (“Dallas Buyers Club”) is producing the film along with Frankie Lindquist of Scooty Woop Elite. Lemole and Zajaros are executive producing with Gussi’s Horacio Altimirano and Penny Karlin, as well as Phyllis Laing, Robert Barnum, Dave Hansen and Mary Cybriwsky.
Additional financing was provided by Josh Sternberg, Stormchaser Films principals Louise Linton and Steve Mnuchin, Stefan Aumiller and Vishaul Rungta and Ike and Jackie Suri.
Buffalo Gal Pictures and Dave Hansen are providing production services in Canada, where production is currently under way in Winnipeg. Voltage is handling international sales and will begin shopping the project to foreign buyers in Cannes this spring.
“Midnight Man” is based on the old Pagan ritual “The Midnight Game,” though it doubles as an American remake of Rob Kennedy’s low-budget 2013 feature of the same name that was made in Ireland.
Gabrielle Haugh stars as a girl who plays a game with her friends that summons a creature known as The Midnight Man who uses their worst fears against them.
The film co-stars Grayson Gabriel, Summer Howell, Keenan Lehmann, Meredith Rose, Michael Sirow and Kyle Strauts, the latter of whom plays the title character.
Elwes and Lindquist previously collaborated on Joe Dante‘s “Burying the Ex.” Elwes recently produced the Michael Shannon–Kevin Spacey comedy “Elvis & Nixon,” which will debut at the Tribeca Film Festival, and he also has the Ansel Elgort-Taron Egerton drama “Billionaire Boys Club” on the horizon.
Best known for playing Freddy Krueger in the “Nightmare on Elm Street” franchise, Englund’s genre credits also include “Hatchet,” “The Mangler,” “Urban Legend” and “Wishmaster.” He’s repped by JR Talent Group.
Shaye played Elise Rainier in the “Insidious” trilogy and also appeared in the first two “Critters” movies. She has also co-starred in several of the Farrelly brothers’ films, including a memorable turn as Magda in “There’s Something About Mary.” Shaye, who will soon be seen in “Ouija 2,” is represented by Don Buchwald & Associates and Rugolo Entertainment.
Travis Z recently directed a remake of Eli Roth‘s “Cabin Fever” that was executive produced by Elwes.
The “Midnight Man” deals were negotiated by Jonathan Gardner and Robert Barnum.