‘Orphan’ Prequel ‘Esther’ Lands William Brent Bell as Director

Bell’s most recent project is “Brahms: The Boy II”

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Director William Brent Bell — whose horror film “Brahms: The Boy II” hits theaters this Friday — has been tapped to direct “Esther,” a prequel to the 2009 horror film “Orphan,” for Entertainment One (eOne) and Dark Castle.

Production is set to begin this summer on the David Coggeshall-scripted film that will revisit the murderous sociopath featured in director Jaume Collet-Serra’s original film, which grossed nearly $78 million worldwide for Warner Bros.

A description for the prequel reads:

Lena Klammer orchestrates a brilliant escape from a Russian psychiatric facility and travels to America by impersonating the missing daughter of a wealthy family. But Lena’s new life as “Esther” comes with an unexpected wrinkle and pits her against a mother who will protect her family at any cost.

Dark Castle Entertainment’s Alex Mace, Hal Sadoff and Ethan Erwin will produce with James Tomlinson. David Leslie Johnson will serve as an executive producer and Jen Gorton and Josie Liang will oversee for eOne.

In addition to directing “Brahms: The Boy II,” Bell is in the final stages of postproduction on his next feature, “Separation,” a Brooklyn-set supernatural thriller starring Rupert Friend and Brian Cox. His other credits include “The Boy,” “The Devil Inside,” “Wer” and “Stay Alive.” He is represented by ICM Partners and Jackoway Austen Tyerman Wertheimer Mandelbaum Morris Bernstein Trattner & Klein.

Coggeshall’s credits include “Watch Over Me” and “Prey.” He is represented by Writ Large and McKuin Frankel Whitehead.

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