Pretty Little LiarsandTruth or DarestarLucy Halewill be seen next in the action-thrillerF*** Marry Kill, but after that she’ll be channelingher inner Ellen Ripleytobattle evil forces in Antarctica in the new sci-fi thriller,White Mars. Hale first rose to prominence thanks to her role of Aria Montgomery inPretty Little Liars, and she’s since gone on to have a successful career in Hollywood, appearing not only in the horror flickTruth or Dare, but inScream 4, and Blumhouse’s 2020 hit,Fantasy Island.
PerDeadline,White Marswill be helmed by Martin Owen (Above The Below), with the script penned by Matt Mitchell, Vicki Sargent, and Roo Berry. Filming is set to begin in a matter of days, and will take place at Cinecittà Studios in Rome. Hale released a statement to celebrate the film’s announcement, saying she’s excited to kick things off overseas, while also touting the characteristics of Sammie, the woman she’ll be portraying.
F Marry Kill Trailer Finds Lucy Hale Swiping Right on a Serial Killer
Lucy Hale and Virginia Gardner star in the dark comedy thriller F Marry Kill, which has a true-crime junkie using a dating app to find a murderer.
“White Marsis an absolute psychological thrill ride, and I’m so excited to film this at the Cinecittà film stages in Rome. At the heart of this story is Sammie, a character I truly admire for her resilience and strength. I can’t wait to collaborate with Martin Owen, our incredible cast, and the entire team to bring this story to life.”
White Mars Sounds Very Similar to John Carpenter’s The Thing
It appears as if Ripley won’t be the only action hero Hale will have to tap into forWhite Mars, as she’ll also have to summon a little of Kurt Russell’s R. J. MacReady based on what we know of the film so far. It sounds eerily similar to John Carpenter’s 1982 classicThe Thing, which also took place in Antarctica, and dealt with a group of researchers battling an extraterrestrial being.
“Set in an isolated Aquila Research Facility in Antarctica,White Marsfollows microbiologist Sammie (Hale), as she fights to save her fellow crew members from a malevolent entity whose sole intention is to extinguish them all.”
It’s no surprise, really, as even thoughThe Thingbombed at the box office when it was released, it has sincebecome a genre classicthat inspired a generation of filmmakers. Guillermo del Toro, Quentin Tarantino, J.J. Abrams, and Neill Blomkamp have all cited its influence in their own work, withShawn of the Dead’sEdgar Wright going so far as to tell the New York Times a few years ago that it’s one of the scariest movies he’d ever seen.
While it’s doubtful thatWhite Marswill have the same impact as Carpenter’s film, seeing Hale in the lead kicking some butt and saving the day should be a lot of fun, as she’s a talented actress with a lot of range, something she doesn’t get nearly enough credit for. With principal photography getting underway on Nov. 11, there’s still no word on a release date, but it’s a safe bet that it’ll premiere at some point in 2025.
