Universal and Blumhouse announced on Monday that James McAvoy is set to star in a remake of the Danish thriller “Speak No Evil,” which will be written and directed by James Watkins.
The remake, based on the film by Christian and Mads Tafdrup, is set to be released on August 9, 2024. Christian Tafdrup will be an executive producer on the film alongside Blumhouse CEO Jason Blum, Paul Ritchie, Jacob Jarek, and Bea Sequeira.
Released by IFC Films in 2022 with a premiere in the Sundance Film Festival’s midnight section, “Speak No Evil” follows a Danish couple on vacation in Tuscany who meet a Dutch couple with a mute child. The Dutch couple begin to insinuate themselves into the lives of the Danish couple, pushing their ability to tolerate abusive behavior until it takes a violent turn.
Watkins’ directing credits include the “Black Mirror” episode “Shut Up and Dance” and the film “The Woman in Black,” which is the highest grossing British horror film in box office history. He has just completed show-running and directing the sixties spy thriller series “The Ipcress File.”
McAvoy, who previously worked with director M. Night Shyamalan on Blumhouse’s “Split” and “Glass,” most recently appeared on the third and final season of HBO’s “His Dark Materials.” He is also set to appear in the Sony/Legendary Pictures film “The Book of Clarence” alongside LaKeith Stanfield this September.
McAvoy is represented by United Agents, UTA, The Lede Company and Sloane, Offer, Weber and Dern, LLP. Watkins is represented by WME and United Agents.
