Longlegs: Nicolas Cage, Maika Monroe horror film secures distribution deals

Last Updated on January 30, 2024

A few months ago, it was announced that the great Nicolas Cage will be starring in Longlegs, the latest horror project from The Blackcoat’s Daughter (a.k.a. February), I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House, and Gretel & Hansel director Osgood Perkins. Two weeks ago, we learned that Maika Monroe (It Follows) has joined Cage in the cast – and in that casting announcement, it was mentioned that the project would be presented to potential distributors at this month’s European Film Market. Now, Deadline reports that things are going well for Longlegs at the EFM. According to Deadline, “Buyers consistently told us this week that Longlegs was among the pre-sale projects they most liked.” Black Bear International has secured the following international distribution deals: Metropolitan for France, DCM for Germany, Rialto for Australia, DeaPlaneta for Spain, Sun for Latin America, Scanbox for Scandinavia, Belga for Benelux, TFG for Greece, Cinemundo for Portugal, Fabula for Turkey, Acme for Baltics, Prorom/KinoSwiat for Eastern Europe, PVR for India, PT Prima for Indonesia, Shaw for Singapore, Sahamongkol for Thailand, Forum for Israel, Empire for South Africa, and Pioneer for Philippines. Black Bear will release in the UK. Meanwhile, UTA and CAA Media Finance – co-repping the film’s domestic rights – are close to making a domestic distribution deal with Neon.

The story Perkins wrote for Longlegs is said to be “in the vein of classic Hollywood psychological thrillers.” Monroe is taking on the role of FBI Agent Lee Harker, a gifted new recruit assigned to the unsolved case of an elusive serial killer (Cage). As the case takes complex turns, unearthing evidence of the occult, Harker discovers a personal connection to the merciless killer and must race against time to stop him before he claims the lives of another innocent family.

Cage has said the film is about “a character who’s hearing voices. It’s kind of like a possessed Geppetto, who’s making these dolls”. Production is now underway in Vancouver, Canada. Cage is producing Longlegs through his company Saturn Films, which recently had success with The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent and Pig. Also producing are Dan Kagan, Brian Kavanaugh-Jones, Dave Caplan, and Chris Ferguson. Jason Cloth and Fred Berger of Automatik serve as executive producers with John Friedberg of Black Bear International. 

In addition to directing the films mentioned at the top of this article, Perkins directed an episode of the recent revival of The Twilight Zone. He has also worked on the screenplays for the thriller Removal, the crime thriller Cold Comes the Night, and the horror film The Girl in the Photographs.

Are you looking forward to Longlegs? Let us know by leaving a comment below. It might be a while before we hear release dates for the film, but it’s good to know it’s racking up a lot of distribution deals.