The Walking Dead producers to launch a shared horror fairy tale universe

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

Above artwork illustrated by Lorenzo Mattotti

Circle of Confusion, the production company that brought you such spine-tingling sensations as THE WALKING DEAD and FEAR THE WALKING DEAD have landed the rights to A WICKED TALE, an original script penned by Dan Kay. While Kay's script has been described as a contemporary horror take on the classic Brothers Grimm tale, Hansel & Gretel, it's been said that COC is planning to build a shared universe franchise of horror films based on re-tooled versions of classic fairy tales and public domain characters. (via Deadline)

Re-writing the script for the Hansel & Gretel idea are Zach Andrews and Bobby Roe, who in 2014 jointly delivered THE HOUSES OCTOBER BUILT, a horror film that centers on five friends who are stalked by a group of mysterious and disturbed individuals while on a road trip looking for the ultimate haunted house attraction. In addition to re-working the screenplay, Roe will also direct. Meanwhile, Andrews will produce with Circle of Confusion’s Matt Smith and Lawrence Mattis, alongside Seasmoke Entertainment’s Josh Weinstock.

For A WICKED TALE, Andrews and Roe aim to craft a wickedly good script that centers on "two college students who stumble upon something sinister in the local woods after an altercation with a fellow student leads to deadly consequences."

As if their hands aren't full enough already, Kay and Roe are also executive producing this puppy with Brad Mendelsohn of Circle of Confusion.

If successful, Circle of Confusion plans to tap into fairy tales from all corners of the world, twisting them into savagely surreal stories of pain, terror, and cautionary conundrums. As someone who's always enjoyed delving into the dark histories of fairy tales and folklore, I can't wait to see how this pans out. Granted, horror-inspired fairy tale films are a dime a dozen, but if done well, Circle of Confusion could build to something truly terrible – and by that I mean fantastic!