A24 has officially secured the rights to Jeremy Saulnier’s next film — an as-yet-untitled Halloween-themed thriller — beating out a high-profile roster of contenders including Netflix, Neon, and 20th Century Studios. Despite Netflix offering a competitive bid, insiders reveal that its lack of a theatrical release option may have cost the streamer the deal. For Saulnier, the big screen appears to be non-negotiable this time.
The decision marks a notable shift for the filmmaker, whose last two projects, Rebel Ridge and Hold the Dark, went straight to Netflix. While Rebel Ridge amassed over 31 million views in just three days, Saulnier is reportedly seeking the kind of tactile, communal experience that streaming can’t offer — a theatrical return to the kind of gritty intensity that made Blue Ruin and Green Room cult favourites.
Described as a tense, chase-driven thriller in the vein of The Fugitive, the project is also said to carry hints of Halloween chaos and musical mayhem — or, as Saulnier himself rather cheekily put it, "fun shit". Though plot details remain tightly under wraps, it’s clear the director is dipping back into the raw, blood-pumping storytelling that defines his best work — albeit with a playful seasonal twist.
A24’s win signals just how high the industry is betting on Saulnier right now. After the behind-the-scenes drama of Rebel Ridge — including the well-publicised exit of John Boyega and the film’s rocky production timeline — the director has emerged with renewed momentum. With this latest project, he seems poised to channel both his past grit and a new cinematic flair — and this time, into a darkened theatre near you.
