In The Earth: Ben Wheatley wraps horror pic filmed entirely during pandemic

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

While the coronavirus pandemic has forced many productions to shut down, UK filmmaker Ben Wheatley recently wrapped production on his secret horror film IN THE EARTH. Filmed entirely during the ongoing pandemic, In the Earth features Joel Fry (Yesterday, Love Wedding Repeat), Ellora Torchia (Midsommar, The Split), Hayley Squires (In Fabric), and Reece Shearsmith (The Widower, Chasing Shadows) in starring roles. The U.S. rights for the project were recently picked up by Neon, with plans to release the movie theatrically next year.

Here's a synopsis for the In the Earth, per Deadline:

As the world searches for a cure to a disastrous virus, a scientist and park scout venture deep in the forest for a routine equipment run. Through the night, their journey becomes a terrifying voyage through the heart of darkness, the forest coming to life around them.

Last month, Wheatley launched his latest feature, Rebecca, on Netflix. Framed as a mystery-drama starring Lily James, Armine Hammer, and Kristen Scott Thomas, Rebecca tells the twisty tale of a young newlywed who arrives at her husband's imposing family estate on a windswept English coast and finds herself battling the shadow of his first wife, Rebecca, whose legacy lives on in the house long after her death.

Before Rebecca, Wheatley directed such films as Kill List, Sightseers, and High-Rise. While completing work on In the Earth, Wheatley is also managing post-production on an action thriller he co-wrote with Amy Jump titled Freak Shift. In the film, a band of misfits hunt down and kill underground, nocturnal monsters. Beyond those two projects, Wheatley is also slated to direct Alicia Vikander's Tomb Raider sequel, which is no longer being released by MGM in early 2021, after losing its release date. Lastly, Wheatley will helm Meg 2: The Trench, a sequel to Jon Turteltaub's 2018 action horror film starring Jason Statham and an ancient megalodon running amok.