Award-winning Bollywood star Kangana Ranaut (“Emergency,” “Queen”) is crossing over to Hollywood, landing her first leading role in the horror drama “Blessed Be the Evil.”
The initiative from Lions Movies will feature Ranaut acting alongside Tyler Posey of “Teen Wolf” fame and Scarlet Rose Stallone from “Tulsa Wine.”
Production is scheduled to start this summer in New York, with the producers explicitly stating they selected American locations to “steer clear of any ambiguities arising from the newly declared Trump administration tariffs on the industry.”
Director Anurag Rudra (“New Me,” “Tailing Pond”) will helm from a screenplay he co-wrote with Gatha Tiwary, president and founder of Lions Movies. Both will serve as producers, with Wade Muller (“Elephant White,” “Occupation: Rainfall”) confirmed as director of photography.
The movie’s summary indicates that it revolves around a Christian duo who, following a heartbreaking miscarriage, acquire an old farm steeped in sinister history. They find their bond and beliefs challenged as they face off against a harmful entity haunting the place.
I grew up in rural India, where tales were woven into my psyche from an early age,” Rudra stated. “These folklores held such significance for me that they became integral parts of my beliefs. My desire has always been to present these narratives globally via the medium of film—an incredibly potent and aesthetically pleasing means to bridge our aspirations with real life.
Tiwary commented, “‘A story such as ‘Blessed Be The Evil’ is quite uncommon. Lions Movies has crafted a bone-chilling storyline filled with unmatched suspense and drama. Additionally, this film holds significant promise for global markets, whether through streaming platforms or sales.”
Ranaut adds significant star appeal to the production. Besides being an acclaimed actress who has won four National Film Awards and four Filmfare Awards, she is also a multifaceted personality working as both a filmmaker and a politician. Currently, she serves as a Member of Parliament in India’s Lok Sabha. She directed “Emergency,” where she played Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, and the film had a global theater release earlier this year.
Posey gained prominence as the main character in MTV’s “Teen Wolf” series and its follow-up movie where he also took on production duties. He had earlier explored the horror genre in “Truth or Dare.” Meanwhile, Stallone, who is Sylvester Stallone’s daughter along with Jennifer Flavin, starred in the crime-comedy “Reach Me” and later featured in “The Gunslingers,” co-starring with Nicholas Cage.
The project will be presented to international buyers at the upcoming Cannes Film Market. London/Stroud Casting is handling additional casting.
Lions Movies is presently in development of “American Import,” which is being billed as a crime drama that delves into familial relationships, brotherly competition, achievements, moral decay, and avarice.
More from Efwebe
- Netflix, Amazon Prime, ZEE5, and SonyLIVE Compete for Honors at India’s IFFI Streaming Awards – International News Feed
- Exclusive: The horror film “Screamboat,” inspired by ‘Steamboat Willie,’ has added Tyler Posey from “Teen Wolf” and breakout star Kailey Hyman from “Terrifier 2.”