Boardman & Derrickson Sharpening Their Pencils for English Language Re-Make of Ole Bornedal's Danish Horror Film
Los Angeles, California October 2, 2009 -- Ghost House Pictures has announced today the establishment of Spooky Pictures, a production label dedicated to the financing, development, production and distribution of scary movies made for the family audience.
The first project under the new label, in collaboration with friends and partners Sony Pictures and Stars Road Entertainment's Joshua Donen, will be "The Substitute." Scott Derrickson and Paul Harris Boardman ("The Exorcism Of Emily Rose") will scribe the remake of acclaimed writer/ director Ole Bornedal's 2007 Danish language thriller of the same name, with Derrickson directing. The project is being developed in cooperation with Columbia Pictures, which has an option to co-finance and distribute the picture domestically. Columbia has a first-look to distribute this and future films from Spooky Pictures.
The film will be produced by filmmakers Sam Raimi ("Evil Dead," the "Spider-Man" franchise) and Rob Tapert ("30 Days of Night," "The Grudge" films) through their new Spooky Pictures shingle in association with Thura Films. Russell Hollander and Nathan Kahane will executive produce alongside the makers of the Danish film Ole Bornedal and Michael Obel. Tendo Nagenda and J.R. Young will shepherd for Spooky Pictures.
"The Substitute" follows a terrified 6th grade class as they race to reveal to their parents that their new substitute teacher is an evil alien being.
Boardman and Derrickson previous collaborations include "The Exorcism Of Emily Rose" and "The Day The Earth Stood Still." They are repped by WME, Brillstein Entertainment Partners, and attorney Karl Austen of Jackoway Tyerman Wertheimer Austen Mandelbaum Morris & Klein. Sam Raimi is represented by CAA and attorney Craig Jacobson. Ole Bornedal is repped by WME, Danny Sherman at Principal Entertainment and attorney Andrew Hurwitz at Schreck Rose Dapello Adams & Hurwitz. Michael Obel is repped by WME. For Spooky Pictures, Rob McEntegart negotiated the remake rights and Columbia deals, and Dan Freedman negotiated the Boardman/Derrickson deal. Principal Entertainment, WME and Andrew Hurwitz brokered the deal between Thura Films and Spooky Pictures.
About Ghost House Pictures:
Ghost House Pictures was formed as a joint venture between Mandate Pictures and filmmakers Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert creating a production label dedicated to the financing, development and release of films in the horror thriller genre. The company has achieved success with five consecutive #1 releases, starting with the 2004 remake of "The Grudge," starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, which has grossed $188 million worldwide; "The Grudge 2," which opened at number one in October 2006; Stephen T. Kay's "Boogeyman," starring Barry Watson; "The Messengers," from acclaimed filmmakers Oxide and Danny Pang ("The Eye"), which was released in February 2007; and David Slade's "30 Days of Night," an adaptation of the popular comic about vampires descending on an Alaskan town. Most recently, Universal Pictures released "Drag Me To Hell" in May 2009. The film which was written and directed by Sam Raimi stars Alison Lohman and Justin Long.
