Scott Derrickson

Reese Witherspoon to Star in West Memphis 3 Story DEVIL’S KNOT Directed by Atom Egoyan

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: December 15th, 2011 at 5:22 pm

Director Atom Egoyan’s (Chloe) next project Devil’s Knot is based on the true events surrounding the 1993 murder of three boys in West Memphis, Arkansas, and the subsequent arrest of three teens suspected of committing the murders through satanic rituals. Taking its title from the Mara Leveritt book by the same name, Devil’s Knot will presumably take a dramatic look at the investigation of the case, both by the local police involved and by journalists like Leveritt who found the arrest and conviction of the West Memphis Three highly suspicious. While details on the film are short, Reese Witherspoon is reportedly attached to star as Pam Hobbs, a mother of one of the victims who is at first convinced of the teenagers’ guilt, but starts to question their conviction once the case drags on. Hit the jump for more on Devil’s Knot.

Scott Derrickson to Co-Write and Direct Horror Film Starring Charlize Theron

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: October 18th, 2011 at 8:05 am

Scott Derrickson (The Day the Earth Stood Still) has signed on to co-write and direct the remake of the Dutch horror thriller Zwart Water (re-titled Two Eyes Staring internationally) with Charlize Theron attached to star and produce.  Per Heat Vision, the original film “centers on a nine-year girl old who discovers that her new friend is not only sinister but also is her mother’s dead twin. Theron is attached to play the mother, who is not quite right in the head.”  I don’t think anyone sounds right in the head if they have to tell their daughter, “Please don’t play with my dead twin.”  Two Eyes Staring recently played at Fantastic Fest where it picked up less-than-stellar reviews.

Derrickson, who co-wrote the script with his Exorcism of Emily Rose collaborator Paul Boardman, is also attached to direct an untitled horror film for Summit and the biblical action flick Goliath.  Theron will be seen in theaters later this year in Jason Reitman’s Young Adult and next summer in Ridley Scott’s sci-fi flick Prometheus.

Dwayne Johnson in Talks for GOLIATH, Taylor Lautner Offered the Role of David?

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: August 30th, 2011 at 6:14 pm

If you’re casting the Biblical story of David and Goliath, you better be casting big for the latter role. Director Scott Derrickson (The Exorcism of Emily Rose) is looking to do just that, as Twitch reports that Dwayne Johnson is now in talks to play Goliath in, well, Goliath. Derrickson is directing the flick for Relativity Media, which will center on the future King of Israel, David, who is on the run as the warrior Goliath has been sent to kill him.

In addition to Johnson’s casting, Twitch says they’ve heard that none other than Taylor Lautner has been offered the part of David because of course he has. Marty Bowen and Wyck Godfrey are producing Goliath, but the two were also producers on the Twilight films, thus explaining Lautner’s involvement. However, Shark Boy’s participation is as of yet unconfirmed, and even if he has been offered the part there’s no guarantee that he’ll take it. Nevertheless, Derrickson seems to have found his Goliath and I can’t say I disapprove.

Summit Acquires Scott Derrickson’s Untitled Horror Film Starring Ethan Hawke; New Details Emerge

by Jason Barr    Posted: August 1st, 2011 at 5:11 pm

Last week, we let you know that Ethan Hawke had signed on to star in a low-budget, found footage horror film from director Scott Derrickson (The Exorcism of Emily Rose). Although details on the film were sparse at that time, info is beginning to bleed out now that Summit Entertainment has acquired U.S. domestic rights to the pic. According to Deadline, the film will see Hawke take on the role of a journalist who moves his family from corner to corner so as to get the skinny on gruesome murders that he then adapts into books. As the story goes, Hawke and co. move into a house where an entire family was murdered, only to find said footage which lets them in on what really happened.

It’s believed that the project will cost less than $5 million to make with Paranormal Activity and Insidious‘ Jason Blum co-producing alongside Brian Kavanaugh-Jones’ Automatik Entertainment. Given Blum’s track record of turning low-budget horror projects into profit, I’d say there is minimal risk at play here at least from Summit’s perspective. The studio is expected to follow the tried and true formula of releasing the pic, which Derrickson co-wrote with C. Robert Cargill, to limited theaters initially with a commitment for potential wide release to follow.

Holt McCallany Joins GANGSTER SQUAD; Ethan Hawke to Star in Scott Derrickson’s Untitled Horror Film

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: July 14th, 2011 at 1:09 pm

We have two quick pieces of casting news for you this afternoon.  First up, Deadline reports that Lights Out star Holt McCallany will be playing the bodyguard and main enforcer of mobster Mickey Cohen (Sean Penn) in Gangster Squad.  The film, directed by Ruben Fleischer ( is based on a series of articles in the LA Times by Will Beale about the 1940s special task force of Los Angeles cops who fought gangland activity.  The impressive cast also features Ryan Gosling, Josh Brolin, Anthony Mackie, Michael Pena, and Giovanni Ribisi.  McCallany also recently signed on to co-star in Walter Hill’s upcoming action flick starring Sylvester Stallone.

Hit the jump for casting news for Scott Derrickson’s low-budget horror flick.

INSIDIOUS Producer Teams With Director Scott Derrickson for Untitled Horror-Mystery

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: May 3rd, 2011 at 5:43 pm

Producer Jason Blum (Insidious) is teaming up with director Scott Derrickson (The Exorcism of Emily Rose) for a new horror-mystery. 24 Frames reports that the plot for the untitled film is still under wraps, but it’s said to be a “horror story with a crime at the center.” Blum’s Insidious was made on a tiny budget of $2 million but so far has raked in almost $50 million domestically.

The small-budget large-return model will be used yet again for this new film. I quite liked The Exorcism of Emily Rose, and enjoyed the way Derrickson handle both the horror and courtroom drama genres with equal gravitas. Hopefully he can do the same this time, with the new untitled flick going for more than the cheap gore thrills and jump-scares. Derrickson is aiming for a summer shoot. No word on casting at the moment.

Scott Derrickson Takes on GOLIATH

by Jason Barr    Posted: January 7th, 2011 at 1:35 pm

Apparently still high on adrenaline after taking on the devil in 2005′s The Exorcism of Emily Rose, director Scott Derrickson is now calling out the Philistine giant Goliath.  According to Heat Vision, Derrickson has agreed to direct the Biblical underdog tale of David vs. Goliath for Relativity Media and Temple Hill.

Written by under-the-radar scribes John D. Payne and Patrick McKay, Goliath is shaping up to be in the vein of a period action flick such as 300.  The film will tell the story of the purported future King of Israel David as he attempts to flee the warrior Goliath who has been sent to kill him.  There is no word on when Goliath aims to begin production.  As for Derrickson, he is also currently attached to direct the sci-fi/family film The Substitute for Columbia and Sam Raimi’s Ghost House label.

Extra! Laura Dern Is a FOCKER, Mike Mitchell Enlists in MONSTER SQUAD, Screen Gems Hires THE BLACK PHANTOM, and Scott Derrickson Is Among THE LIVING

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: October 19th, 2009 at 1:43 am

Here at Collider, we’re all killer, no filler.  Okay, sometimes a little filler.  Filler’s good for you.  Makes you grow up big and strong and slightly overweight.  But rather than throw up four stories, we’re going to give them to you for the price of one.  We’re generous like that.

Hit the jump to read about Laura Dern joining “Little Fockers”, “Shrek Forever After” director Mike Mitchell making “Monster Squad” his next project, Screen Gems developing the comedy, “The Black Phantom”, and Scott Derrickson coming on board to direct “The Living”.

Copyright ©2005 - 2012. All Rights Reserved. California web design