After spending twenty-nine years racking up a ton of credits working on TV movies and series, director James Hawes has signed on to direct the exorcism thriller THE DEVIL'S LIGHT for Lionsgate and Gold Circle. Hawes will be working from a script by Robert Zappia, the screenwriter on HALLOWEEN H20 (pictured above.)
Zappia's story centers on
Sister Ann, a restless 25-year-old, who devoutly believes that performing exorcisms is her calling. But she is at odds with the institution’s traditions: sisters are not allowed to perform exorcisms, only priests. With the support of a mentor, a professor who senses her special gift, she is allowed to observe actual training sessions. Her desire to prove herself takes a personal turn when she meets one of the school’s most disturbed patients. During their harrowing encounters, Sister Ann comes face to face with a demonic force that infests the school and has mysterious ties to her own past. It is then that the power of evil and her own startling abilities are fully realized.
Personally, I've pretty much had my fill of exorcism horror movies. I'd be fine if I never saw another new movie about a priest conducting an exorcism, and this movie getting a nun in on it isn't going to boost my interest. And yet, I'm sure I'll be watching THE DEVIL'S LIGHT at some point anyway.
THE DEVIL'S LIGHT is being produced by Paul Brooks, Jessica Malanaphy, Todd Jones, and Earl Richey Jones. Scott Niemeyer, David Brooks, and Brad Kessell serve as executive producers, with Meredith Wieck and Eda Kowan overseeing the project for Lionsgate. Kowan and Jason Constantine secured the rights for Lionsgate.
Lionsgate will be distributing the film in North America, the UK, and Latin America. Their international arm will be presenting the project to potential buyers at the AFM.
THE DEVIL'S LIGHT is expected to begin filming in the first half of 2020.
Hawes' previous credits include episodes of Doctor Who, Penny Dreadful, The Mist, The Alienist, Black Mirror, and Snowpiercer.