Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures (MGM) will produce a contemporary version of the iconic horror classic Child’s Play for Orion Pictures; it was announced today by Jonathan Glickman, MGM’s President, Motion Picture Group and John Hegeman, President, Orion Pictures. Starring Aubrey Plaza (Ingrid Goes West, Legion, Parks and Recreation) as Karen, Emmy and Tony nominee Brian Tyree Henry (Atlanta, Widows, If Beale Street Could Talk) as Mike and Gabriel Bateman (Lights Out, American Gothic) as Andy, principal photography commenced in Vancouver. Rising filmmaker Lars Klevberg (Polaroid) will direct from Tyler Burton Smith’s (Kung Fury, Quantum Break video game) screenplay based on the original motion picture.
Child’s Play follows a mother (Plaza) who gives her son (Bateman) a toy doll for his birthday, unaware of its more sinister nature.
David Katzenberg and Seth Grahame-Smith will produce under their KatzSmith Productions banner. The duo produced last year’s smash hit remake of It, the highest grossing horror film of all time bringing in $700 million at the global box office. Aaron Schmidt and Chris Ferguson will executive produce.
Collaborating with Klevberg is a creative team led by Director of Photography Brendan Uegama (CW’s Riverdale, Netflix’s Chilling Adventures of Sabrina), production designer Dan Hermansen (Star Trek: Beyond, Godzilla), editor Tom Elkins (Annabelle, Inferno), costume designer Jori Woodman (The Boy, Final Destination 5), and special effects supervisor Dan Keeler (Fox’s The X Files, Amazon’s The Man in the High Castle).
Child’s Play, the 1988 film, went on to gross $44 million worldwide on a $9 million budget and spawned one of the most recognizable and successful horror characters of all time with its psychotic killer doll, Chucky.
Bateman is represented by Coast to Coast Talent Group and HG5 Entertainment; Plaza is represented by CAA and MGMT Entertainment; Henry is represented by CAA, JWS Entertainment.
