SKELETONS Adds John Goodman to the Cast of JT Mollner’s New Creature Horror Movie
If you enjoyed Strange Darling , there’s no doubt you’ll be interested in what director JT Mollner is cooking up for his next horror film project with Skeletons, and the cast just landed another major addition.
According to Deadline, John Goodman has officially joined the creature feature, adding even more star power to a lineup that was already turning heads.
Goodman joins Brie Larson, along with Strange Darling stars Willa Fitzgerald and Kyle Gallner, who are reuniting with Mollner after the success of their previous collaboration. The cast also includes Ione Skye and Daithí Ó Haragáin, making this one of the more intriguing horror ensembles currently in development.
Sony Pictures is describing Skeletons as a "modern take on the creature horror film," which makes it sound like it’s aiming to do something a little different with the genre. Rather than simply throwing monsters at the audience, the story leans into mystery and family secrets.
The film follows a young boy who slowly begins to realize that the people he trusts most may be hiding something terrifying. The official synopsis reveals that Skeletons is "told from the perspective of a young boy who slowly begins to discover that his beloved parents are hiding a disturbing secret about his mother’s true nature."
That story leaves plenty of room for suspense, psychological tension, and, of course, whatever creature nightmare is waiting to emerge.
With Brian Duffield writing the screenplay, there's even more reason to be optimistic. Duffield has built a reputation for delivering smart, character-driven genre stories with films like Love and Monsters and No One Will Save You.
The screenplay is based on the short story “Fail-Safe” by Philip Fracassi, whose horror fiction has earned plenty of praise for blending emotional storytelling with unsettling ideas. Having Duffield adapt Fracassi's work feels like a strong creative pairing.
J.J. Abrams is producing the film through Bad Robot Productions, and it’s being developed by Infrared, Bad Robot Productions, and Assemble Media.
Between Mollner's impressive work on Strange Darling, Duffield's knack for memorable horror storytelling, an outstanding cast led by Larson and Goodman, and a interesting creepy story, Skeletons is shaping up to be a exciting creature horror movie worth keeping an eye on.
Skeletons has all the ingredients to deliver something fresh, unsettling, and memorable for horror fans.