Growing up, there was no series of books that I loved more than R.L. Stine's Fear Street novels, which were much scarier and more violent than the author's Goosebumps series that I read as a kid. I couldn't wait to get my hands on the latest Fear Street book as a horror-loving pre-teen, which is why as a so-called adult, I've been so eager to dig up details of the Fear Street movie -- or should I say movies -- in the works at 20th Century Fox and Chernin Entertainment. And now Collider can exclusively report that up-and-coming actors Kiana Madeira and Olivia Welch are set to star in the ambitious genre project.
As previous reports have indicated, Fear Street will be a trilogy of films that are expected to be released in fairly close proximity to each other. Leigh Janiak (Honeymoon) will direct the first and third films in the series, while Alex Ross Perry (Her Smell) will direct the second film in the trilogy, which will be produced by Chernin Entertainment. 20th Century Fox exec Jason Young will oversee the unique plan on behalf of the studio.
It's my understanding that Janiak oversaw a writer's room to hatch out storylines for the Fear Street trilogy, and while it's unclear whom the script(s) will ultimately be credited to, it's safe to assume Janiak will be among the writers listed. I've also heard that Stranger Things scribe Kate Trefry had a hand in things, which bodes well for the project.
Plot details are being kept under wraps, but sources say that Madeira (right) and Welch (below) will each be playing gay teenagers trying to navigate their rocky relationship when they're targeted by the crazy horrors of their small town, Shadyside. Each actress will be playing two different characters -- one in the mid-'90s, and one in the 1600s, when gay women faced even greater adversity and repercussions -- and they're both slated to appear in all three films, according to sources.
Madeira is best known for starring on the Family Channel sitcom Really Me and several Disney Channel movies, including Harriet the Spy: Blog Wars, Bad Hair Day, The Swap, and the Macdonald Hall film trilogy. Her more recent credits include the Facebook Watch series Sacred Lies and the Netflix series Trinkets, and she also is set for a recurring role on the CW's The Flash. Madeira is represented by TalentWorks, Ambition Talent and attorney John Meigs.
Welch has fewer credits but they're a bit bigger, as she has appeared on Modern Family and Agent Carter, and she'll soon be seen alongside Toni Collette on the Netflix series Unbelievable. Welch has also worked with Janiak before, having co-starred in her Amazon movie Panic, based on the book by Lauren Oliver. She's repped by Osbrink Talent Agency, LINK Entertainment and Morris Yorn.
