Universal Pictures is teaming withJason Blumand his Blumhouse Productions, writer Damon Lindelof (Lost,The Leftovers) and director Craig Zobel (Z for Zachariah) for new action-thrillerThe Hunt. Damon Lindelof co-wrote the script with Nick Cuse, the son of Damon Lindelof’sLostco-creator Carlton Cuse, with the script spawning a competitive bidding war that was won by Universal and Blumhouse. No production details have been released at this time and there is no indication if a release schedule is being planned quite yet.
While the studio hasn’t released any official plot details, sources claim that the “subversive feature” takes cues from the current political climate and the “aggressive nature of the right versus the left.” However, this story takes matters to more extreme and violent levels. Jason Blum will produce through his Blumhouse company, whileDamon Lindelofwill also produce through his White Rabbit production company. Both Nick Cuse and Craig Zobel will serve as executive producers.
Blumhouse has never strayed from movies withsocio-political themeslike this, striking it big last year with the low-budget hitGet Out. The directorial debut of Jordan Peele took in $176 million domestic and $255 million worldwide, from just a $4.5 million budget, while also earning the first Oscar win for Jordan Peele’s original screenplay. Blumhouse has also produced the timelyPurgeseries, with the last installment,The Purge: Anarchy, inspired by the 2016 Presidential election, and this year’sThe First Purgeserving as a prequel to the hit franchise.
This movie will mark the feature screenwriting debut of Nick Cuse, who got his start as a writer’s assistant on Damon Lindelof’s hit HBO seriesThe Leftovers, where he would eventually join the writing staff and write two episodes. Both of those episodes, coincidentally, weredirected by Craig Zobel, who directed three episodes of that hit series, along episodes ofOutcast,American Godsand an upcoming episode of HBO’sWestworld. He has also directed featuresZ for Zachariah,ComplianceandGreat World of Sound.
Thismarks the return to the feature worldfor Damon Lindelof, whose last feature credit was writing the script for Disney’sTomorowlandalongside Jeff Jensen and director Brad Bird. He is also working on aWatchmenTV series for HBO. Jason Blum is coming off a huge year with the success ofGet Out,SplitandHappy Death Day. He is also producing a number of upcoming movies like theUnfriendedsequelUnfriended: Dark Web, along with aBenjiremake, aHalloweenremake,The First Purge,Black Klansmanand many more. He is also working on aPurgeTV series and sequels toHappy Death DayandThe Gallows. As for where this movie would line up on his slate, given how the producer is inclined to make low-budget movies, if filming does end up starting sometime this year, the film could be ready for release by sometime next year, but nothing has been confirmed yet. you may head on over to The Hollywood Reporter for more on this upcoming thriller.
