The Boogeyman: David Dastmalchian and three more join the cast of Stephen King movie

Back in November, it was announced that Host (watch that HERE) and Dashcam director Rob Savage would be taking the helm of the Stephen King adaptation The Boogeyman. A few weeks ago, we learned that Chris Messina (Sharp Objects) and Sophie Thatcher (Yellowjackets) will be starring in the film. Now Deadline reports that four more actors have joined the cast. They are Marin Ireland (The Umbrella Academy), Vivien Lyra Blair (Bird Box), Madison Hu (Voyagers), and a favorite of mine, David Dastmalchian (The Suicide Squad).

The Boogeyman is coming our way from 20th Century Studios. Currently filming in New Orleans, it will be released through Hulu in the U.S., on Star+ in Latin America, and on Disney+ under the Star banner in all other territories. It’s expected it be released sometime in 2023.

Scott Beck and Bryan Woods (A Quiet Place) wrote the initial draft of the script, which has since been rewritten by Akela Cooper (Malignant) and most recently Mark Heyman (Black Swan). According to Deadline, the story follows

a 16-year-old and her younger sister, still reeling from the death of their mother, as they’re targeted by a supernatural boogeyman, after their psychologist father has an encounter with a desperate patient in their house.

From that description, it sounds like the movie will be using King’s short story as its starting point and basically serving as a follow-up of sorts, rather than showing the events that are discussed in the story. Which makes sense, since the story was about a twenty-something father dealing with the loss of three young children and coming to believe they were killed by the legendary Boogeyman. The tragic deaths of infants and toddlers isn’t a marketable concept.

The Boogeyman is being produced by Shawn Levy, Dan Levine, and Dan Cohen of 21 Laps Entertainment, the company behind Stranger Things. Beck, Woods, and Emily Morris serve as executive producers.