The highly anticipated Molepeople will see Stanfield and Mendelsohn navigate a terrifying subterranean world, with the film slated for a worldwide release on August 27, 2027. This ambitious venture is being co-financed and co-produced by Blumhouse Atomic Monster – the recently merged entity of James Wan’s Atomic Monster and Jason Blum’s Blumhouse – alongside Paramount Primal, Paramount’s dedicated genre label.
At the helm is director Rob Savage, known for his work in the horror genre, who will bring Nathan Elston’s script to life. The film's intriguing premise centers on a man who ventures into the abandoned, labyrinthine tunnels beneath New York City, only to uncover a chilling, twisted society lurking in the shadows.
Production for Molepeople is expected to commence in late November or early December of this year, with filming primarily taking place in the United Kingdom. This quick turnaround from announcement to production underscores the confidence surrounding the project.
The producing team boasts a lineup of genre heavyweights, including Jason Blum, J.D. Lifshitz, and Raphael Margules from Primal, and James Harris. Ryan Turek, Tracy Rosenblum, Nathan Elston, and Rob Savage are attached as executive producers, ensuring a strong creative vision from concept to screen.
Interestingly, Molepeople wasn't always destined for such a major studio collaboration. The project initially began its journey as an independent film before finding its home at Paramount. This transition occurred when J.D. Lifshitz and Raphael Margules established Primal, signaling a strategic move to bring high-concept genre fare to a broader audience.
Both LaKeith Stanfield and Ben Mendelsohn bring considerable talent and a knack for intense, nuanced performances to Molepeople. Stanfield recently garnered acclaim for his role in Boots Riley’s I Love Boosters and starred opposite Mark Wahlberg in Amazon’s Play Dirty. Mendelsohn, fresh off the Venice Film Festival premiere of Company, a thriller directed by Casey Affleck, continues to solidify his reputation for captivating, often menacing, portrayals. Their combined presence suggests a horror film that will be as character-driven as it is terrifying.