Hook will take on the central role in Crush, a project that promises a gripping, real-time survival narrative. While official plot details are largely under wraps, initial reports describe the film as a propulsive, ticking-clock thriller. It centers on a woman hiking alone in the Everglades who finds herself ensnared in the crushing coils of a massive python, battling for survival as every breath brings her closer to death. The story is said to be inspired by true events.

Helming the project is Julius Avery, known for Overlord, who will direct from a script penned by John Fischer. The film's origin story is quite unique: Fischer reportedly wrote Crush as a spec script under a pseudonym while serving as an EVP at Temple Hill Entertainment, the production company behind Smile. After the script garnered significant attention on the Black List, Fischer revealed his authorship to his bosses, leading to Temple Hill's involvement.

Temple Hill Entertainment is set to produce Crush alongside Scott Glassgold for 12:01 Films. The project landed at 20th Century Studios following a competitive bidding war, with J.R. Young overseeing development for the studio.

Sarah Catherine Hook's career has been on a rapid ascent. In The White Lotus Season 3, she portrayed Piper Ratliff, a college senior navigating a spiritual path against a backdrop of privilege, sharing the screen with talents like Parker Posey and Jason Isaacs. More recently, she appeared in Netflix’s People We Meet on Vacation, an adaptation of Emily Henry’s bestselling rom-com novel, which proved to be one of the streamer’s most-watched films globally in the first half of this year. Up next, Hook is slated to star opposite Rhys Ifans and Lily Rabe in Lindsey Ryan’s indie film Capsized, which recently premiered at the Edinburgh Film Festival.