• Horror flick to start shooting on location in Ireland later this month

Spooky Pictures and Image Nation Abu Dhabi announced that Adam Scott (Severance) will star in its latest supernatural horror project titled Hokum. The film, written and directed by Damian McCarthy (Oddity), will start shooting on location in Ireland later this month.  

Scott will star as a horror novelist who visits a remote Irish inn to spread his parents’ ashes, unaware the place is rumored to be haunted by a witch. Peter Coonan (Bad Sisters) and David Wilmot (Bodkin) are also set to star.

The announcement follows the success of Image Nation and Spooky Pictures’ collaboration which has produced the blockbuster Late Night with the Devil, starring David Dastmalchian, and the critically acclaimed thriller Watcher directed by Chloe Okuno, starring Maika Monroe. The project is the fifth in the current Image Nation/Spooky Pictures slate following the announcement of Bryan Edward Hills’ Archangel starring Connor Leslie, and Randall Okita’s Menace starring Isabel May which was acquired by IFC/Shudder at Cannes last year.

Ben Ross, Acting CEO of Image Nation, said: “Partnering with Steven and Roy has been an incredible journey and it’s been great to see that our collaboration has led to some incredible projects. With Adam’s talent and charisma and Damian’s unique direction, this is another opportunity for us to push boundaries in the horror genre and continue to make our mark in the international market.”

Steven Schneider of Spooky Pictures added: “With Damian McCarthy’s fresh and unique approach behind the camera and the amazing Adam Scott bringing his talent to the lead role, Hokum is shaping up to be something truly special. It’s always a pleasure working with the team at Image Nation Abu Dhabi—they share our passion for bold, boundary-pushing storytelling. We can’t wait for audiences everywhere to experience what we’ve created together.”

Scott is repped by UTA, Rise Management and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole, LLP. Damian McCarthy is also repped by UTA.

The film will be produced by Spooky Pictures founders Roy Lee (Barbarian) and Steven Schneider (Strange Darling), Image Nation’s Derek Dauchy (Late Night with the Devil), and Tailored Film’s Ruth Treacy, Julianne Forde and Mairtín de Barra (The Apprentice). Ben Ross (Late Night with the Devil), Dan Kagan (Longlegs), Rami Yasin (Late Night with the Devil), and Andrew Childs (Boy Kills World) will serve as Executive Producers. The project is also supported by co-production funding from Screen Ireland / Fís Éireann.

UTA Independent Film Group is handling US/North American rights to the film.

AGC International, the international sales and distribution arm of AGC Studios, handles the rights for the rest of the world.