Stephanie Beatriz (Brooklyn Nine-Nine) and Paul Wesley (The Vampire Diaries) have signed on to star in the horror thriller History of Evil for writer/director Bo Mirhosseni. Under The Shadow and Wounds director Babak Anvari is producing the film, which will be released on the Shudder streaming service as a Shudder Original in North America, the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.
History of Evil will mark the feature debut of Mirhosseni, who has previously directed shorts, music videos, and a short documentary. The film will show us what happens when
a family on the run from a corrupt state takes refuge in a safe house with an evil past – a terrifying last stop on a near-future Underground Railroad.
A collaboration between XYZ Films and Two & Two Pictures, History of Evil is being produced by Anvari, Lucan Toh, and Jake Siegel. Beatriz and Wesley serve as executive producers. Deadline reports that this is “the first project under a pact between XYZ Films and Two & Two Pictures to make films from first and second-time genre directors from under-represented demographics. The pact is set to produce two to three pictures a year initially.”
Two & Two Pictures’ Anvari and Toh provided the following statement:
We are delighted to be working with Bo, Stephanie and Paul on this deeply terrifying and unique horror film, and honored to have found a home at Shudder, whose cutting-edge platform has continues to push genre films forward. Everyone on this team has demonstrated a commitment to bringing timely and entertaining stories to the world, and we couldn’t be more excited to work with them.”
Shudder’s Emily Gotto added:
We are thrilled to be working with XYZ and Two & Two Pictures as we continue to spotlight new and emerging storytellers within this genre, and Bo’s thrilling film debut is no exception. We are excited to have such talents as Stephanie and Paul on board to bring these dynamic characters to life and look forward to sharing the film with Shudder members.”
Although the statements make it sound like those involved are already pleased with a finished film, History of Evil hasn’t actually gone into production yet. Filming is scheduled to begin in the spring.