David F. Sandberg, known for “Annabelle: Creation,” “Shazam!” and “Lights Out,” will direct the film adaptation of the PlayStation horror video game “Until Dawn” by Screen Gems and PlayStation Productions.
“It: Chapter Two” and “The Nun” screenwriter Gary Dauberman is doing the most recent pass on a script from “The Invitation” writer Blair Butler. The plot for the film is under wraps but is said to be an “R-rated and terrifying love letter to the horror genre.”
The PlayStation video game centers on eight friends trapped together on a remote mountain retreat — only to discover they are not alone. They must navigate dread and fear to make it through the night in one piece. The video game, which starred Rami Malek and Hayden Panettiere in motion-capture versions, was named in Variety’s 2021 list of games that deserve movie adaptations.
Under his first look deal with Screen Gems and Sony, Dauberman is producing through his Coin Operated banner with Sandberg and Lotta Losten via Mångata, Vertigo Entertainment’s Roy Lee and Asad Qizilbash and Carter Swan of PlayStation Productions.
“As our partnership with Sony Pictures continues to grow, we’re thrilled to be working on our first movie with Screen Gems. Until Dawn is a fan favorite PlayStation game that we can’t wait to bring to the big screen,” Qizilbash, head of PlayStation Productions and head of product for PlayStation Studios, Sony Interactive Entertainment, said in a statement.
Ashley Brucks and Michael Bitar oversee for the studio. Dan Primozic of Screen Gems closed the rights and helmed the deal for this package.
Sandberg is repped by CAA, The Gotham Group, Narrative and Jackoway Austen Tyerman Wertheimer Mandelbaum Morris Bernstein Trattner & Klein. Butler is repped by Industry Entertainment, CAA and Lichter, Grossman, Nichols, Adler, Feldman & Clark. Dauberman is repped by CAA, Industry Entertainment and Felker Toczek Suddleson Abramson McGinnis Ryan. Lee is repped by CAA and Goodman, Genow, Schenkman, Smelkinson & Christopher.
The news was first reported by Hollywood Reporter.