Michael Ellis to direct folk horror feature about the filmmaker behind ‘Witchfinder General’
Nicholas Denton (“Talamasca: The Secret Order,” “Dangerous Liaisons”) is attached to portray cult British horror filmmaker Michael Reeves opposite Tim Downie (“Baldur’s Gate 3,” “Outlander”) as Hollywood horror legend Vincent Price in “Tragedy Man: The Making of Michael Reeves.” Hugh Bonneville (“Downton Abbey,” “Paddington”) joins as British producer and distributor Tony Tenser.
The elevated folk horror feature explores the turbulent relationship between Reeves and Price during the making of “Witchfinder General,” a collaboration that would produce one of Price’s most acclaimed performances and Reeves’ final film before his death at just 25.
U.K.-based Sceadwe Films and CrossBorder Films have teamed to produce the project. Production is expected to begin in late November. CrossBorder Films will handle international sales and introduce the film to buyers at the American Film Market in Los Angeles.
Sceadwe Films is the U.K. genre production banner co-founded by producer and writer Justin Stanley, while CrossBorder Films is a London-based film production and sales company.
Set against 1960s London and the haunted countryside of East Anglia, “Tragedy Man” follows the young Reeves as he stakes his burgeoning career on “Witchfinder General.” His financiers bring in Hollywood horror star Price for the lead role, a casting choice Reeves vehemently opposes, seeing the veteran actor’s theatrical style as everything he wants to leave behind. Price, meanwhile, is confronting his own fears of becoming obsolete as Hollywood changes around him.
VFX supervisor Michael Ellis (the “Enola Holmes” films, “Cloverfield,” “The Bourne Legacy”) is attached to make his feature debut as director. The film is based on an unpublished short story by Richard Sheppard, a writer and film historian specializing in horror cinema. Sheppard co-wrote the screenplay adaptation with Stanley.
Stanley’s previous writing credits include co-writing Lionsgate thriller “Black Butterfly,” as well as projects for Universal Pictures, New Regency, Marc Platt Productions, Fox Television and HBO.
