Imogen Poots to Star in ‘Black Christmas’ Remake for Blumhouse, Universal
Sophia Takal is directing the film, set for release on Dec. 13
Beatrice Verhoeven | June 13, 2019 @ 11:00 AM
Last Updated: June 13, 2019 @ 11:43 AM
Getty Images
Imogen Poots will star in the remake of “Black Christmas” for Blumhouse Productions and Universal Pictures, with the film set for release on Dec. 13.
Aleyse Shannon, Brittany O’Grady, Lily Donoghue and Caleb Eberhardt will also star in the horror film that takes the release date of a previously untitled Blumhouse movie.
Sophia Takal is directing the remake of the 1974 film. Takal and April Wolfe wrote the script, and the film will shoot in New Zealand.
Jason Blum of Blumhouse Productions, and Ben Cosgrove and Adam Hendricks of Divide/Conquer are producing. Greg Gilreath and Zac Locke of Divide/Conquer will executive produce.
Takal worked with Blumhouse’s television arm earlier this year on the film “New Year, New You,” which starred Suki Waterhouse and Carly Chaikin for Hulu’s “Into the Dark” anthology series. There’s synergy between both the film and TV groups at Blumhouse, with frequent film collaborator Ethan Hawke also now working with TV on the Showtime series, “The Good Lord Bird.”
The original “Black Christmas” was directed by Bob Clark and written by Roy Moore, and starred Olivia Hussey, Keir Dullea, Margot Kidder and John Saxon. It has since received critical acclaim for being one of the earliest slasher films.
Poots’ credits include “28 Weeks Later,” “Green Room” and “A Long Way Down.”
Takal is represented by CAA, Brillstein Entertainment and Gang, Tyre, Ramer Brown & Passman. Poots is represented by CAA, Troika, Management 360 and Morris Yorn Barnes Levine Krintzman Rubenstein Kohner Gellman.
9 Christmas Horror Movies That Scared Up Box Office, From 'Gremlins' to 'Black Christmas' (Photos)
A look at top-grossing holiday shock-fests that have inspired ho-ho-horror -- including last year's "Black Christmas" remake.
9. "Silent Night" (2012)
Opening: $9,779
Cumulative: $14,567
Malcolm McDowell, Jaime King and Donal Logue star in the film about a murderous Santa who picks off people one by one.
Anchor Bay
8. "Better Watch Out" (2016)
Opening: $12,569
Cumulative: $20,369
Olivia DeJonge plays a babysitter who must protect a 12-year-old boy after a home invasion while his parents are out at a holiday party.
7. "Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale" (2010)
Opening: $9,281
Cumulative: $236,347
The film follows a group of people living near the Korvatunturi mountain who discover the secret behind Santa Claus.
Oscilloscope Pictures
6. "Anna and the Apocalypse" (2018)
Opening: $52,588 Cumulative: $545,597
In this comedic musical with grossout touches, a teenager and her friends ward off the zombie apocalypse when it comes at Christmas-time.
5. "Silent Night, Deadly Night" (1984)
Opening: $1.4 million Cumulative: $2.5 million
In the slasher film, a young boy loses his parents and years later becomes a spree killer in a Santa costume.
TriStar
4. "Black Christmas" (2019)
Opening: $4.2 million Cumulative: $10.4 million
A second remake of a 1974 Canadian film, starring Imogen Poots, Aleyse Shannon, Lily Donoghue and Brittany O'Grady, this slasher film about sorority sisters fighting off a stalker takes a stab at feminist themes.
3. "Black Christmas" (2006)
Opening: $3.7 million Cumulative: $16.3 million
Michelle Trachtenberg, Lacey Chabert and Katie Cassidy star in the slasher film about sorority girls getting murdered one by one (a remake of a 1974 Canadian film).
MGM
2. "Krampus" (2015)
Opening: $16.3 million Cumulative: $42.7 million
A boy in a dysfunctional family turns his back on Christmas -- and accidentally unleashes a demon force as a result.
1. "Gremlins" (1984)
Opening: $12.5 million Cumulative: $148.2 million
The movie follows a young boy who breaks rules and unleashes a horde of mischievous monsters.
Warner Bros.
1 of 10
Top-grossing holiday shock-fests that have inspired ho-ho-horror — before this month’s “Black Christmas” remake
A look at top-grossing holiday shock-fests that have inspired ho-ho-horror -- including last year's "Black Christmas" remake.