Award-winning Bollywood star Kangana Ranaut (“Emergency,” “Queen”) is crossing over to Hollywood, landing her first leading role in the horror drama “Blessed Be the Evil.”
The project, from Lions Movies, will see Ranaut star alongside Tyler Posey (“Teen Wolf”) and Scarlet Rose Stallone (“Tulsa King”).
Production is set to begin this summer in New York, with producers specifically noting they chose U.S. locations to “avoid running into any uncertainties stemming from the recently announced Trump industry tariffs.”
Director Anurag Rudra (“New Me,” “Tailing Pond”) will helm from a screenplay he co-wrote with Gatha Tiwary, president and founder of Lions Movies. Both will serve as producers, with Wade Muller (“Elephant White,” “Occupation: Rainfall”) confirmed as director of photography.
According to the synopsis, the film follows a Christian couple who, after experiencing a devastating miscarriage, purchase an abandoned farm with a dark past. Their love and faith are soon tested by a malevolent presence.
“Being born and spending my childhood in rural India, I was told stories that got embedded in my mind and heart,” Rudra said. “This folklore was so special that I truly believed in all the stories, and wanted to showcase them internationally through the art of cinema – the strongest and most beautiful way to connect to dreams and reality.”
Tiwary added: “A story like ‘Blessed Be The Evil’ is very rare. Lions Movies has developed a spine-chilling narrative with unprecedented suspense and drama. It also has great potential for international markets, both in streaming and selling.”
Ranaut brings considerable star power to the project. The multi-hyphenate is not only a celebrated actor with four National Film Awards and four Filmfare Awards, but also a filmmaker and politician currently serving as a Member of Parliament in India’s Lok Sabha. Her directorial effort “Emergency,” in which she portrayed Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, received worldwide theatrical release earlier this year.
Posey, who broke out as the lead in MTV’s “Teen Wolf” series and subsequent revival film (which he also produced), has previously ventured into horror with “Truth or Dare.” Stallone, daughter of Sylvester Stallone and Jennifer Flavin, appeared in crime comedy “Reach Me” and more recently in “The Gunslingers” alongside Nicolas Cage.
The project will be presented to international buyers at the upcoming Cannes Film Market. London/Stroud Casting is handling additional casting.
Posey is repped by Independent Artist Group, Luber Roklin Entertainment, and Goodman, Genow, Schenkman, Smelkinson & Christopher; Stallone is repped by Independent Artist Group and Untitled Entertainment. Robert Benun of BenunLaw negotiated the deals on behalf of the production.
Lions Movies is currently also developing “American Import,” described as a crime drama exploring family bonds, sibling rivalry, success, corruption and greed.
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