Studiocanal’s new in-house genre label, Sixth Dimension, led by Jed Benedict, made its first acquisition ahead of the upcoming European Film Market (EFM). Sixth Dimension has acquired global rights, excluding North America, to the reboot of the slasher film "Silent Night, Deadly Night," which will head into production this spring and is slated for a late 2025 theatrical release. Studiocanal will handle sales of the project at the upcoming EFM (13th-23rd February) and will distribute in their territories, including the UK & Ireland, France, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Benelux, and Poland. Studiocanalacquired the rights from next-generation entertainment studio Cineverse, who will release in North America.
Jed Benedict, Head of Studiocanal’s Sixth Dimension label, commented: “At Sixth Dimension, our mission is to find bold high-concept genre movies from great storytellers. We found exactly that in Mike P. Nelson’s thrilling vision, and combined with the virtuoso Cineverse team, Jamie R. Thompson, the original Silent Night, Deadly Night producers and Steven Schneider, this wildly entertaining reimagining will not only deliver on blood-splattered, axe-wielding festivities, but smuggles in a love story too. ‘Tis the season to be gory!”
“We are incredibly excited to launch international sales of this project in Berlin. As a cult and iconic IP, combined with the successful team behind the recent hit Terrifier 3, we are confident it will be a hot title at EFM, eagerly awaited at year's end for its release!” said Studiocanal’s Chloé Marquet, Head of International Sales for Films & TV Series and Anne Chérel, Chief Commercial Officer.
“This film has strong IP and fan interest that we expect to translate globally,” added Cineverse Chief Content Officer, Yolanda Macias. “We couldn’t be happier with Studiocanal’s Sixth Dimension as our partner to bring this new vision of the iconic franchise to audiences worldwide.”
Mike P. Nelson (Wrong Turn, V/H/S/85) will write and direct the film, which will be produced by Scott Schneid and Dennis Whitehead, executive producers of the original 1984 Tri-Star film. Jamie R. Thompson, Anthony Masi, and Steven Schneider will also serve as executive producers. Erick Opeka, Yolanda Macias, Brandon Hill and Brad Miska will serve as executive producers for Cineverse, who recently brought one of 2024’s top indie box office successes, Damien Leone’s Terrifier 3, to North America, where it grossed approximately $55 million. "Silent Night, Deadly Night" Reimagines a 1984 cult horror classic in which a young boy witnesses the murder of his parents at the hands of a man dressed as Santa, only to grow up and become a killer himself. Haunted by trauma and fuelled by a twisted sense of justice, he dons the red suit, turning the advent calendar into a series of nights of terror. As Christmas Eve approaches, a small town becomes his latest hunting ground, where the naughty and bad pay the ultimate price. Blending psychological horror, brutal slasher thrills, a touch of the supernatural, and – more shockingly still – a sprinkle of romance, the film delivers a modern chilling new take on the ultimate holiday nightmare.