Cinemacon - The Boogeyman will have its world premiere

By Mulder, 31 march 2023

The Boogeyman is a horror short story written by Stephen King, first published in the magazine Cavalier in 1973, and later included in King's 1978 collection Night Shift. The story is about a man named Lester Billings who goes to see a psychiatrist and tells him about his three young children who were all killed by the Boogeyman. Billings is convinced that the creature is real and is stalking him, and he is consumed with guilt for not being able to protect his children from it. The psychiatrist tries to convince Billings that the Boogeyman is just a figment of his imagination, but as the story progresses, it becomes increasingly clear that there may be more to the story than meets the eye. The story has been adapted several times for film and television, including as segments in the 1982 anthology film Night Shift and the 2005 horror film "Boogeyman.While the adaptations vary in their fidelity to the original story, they generally retain the central premise of a man haunted by the Boogeyman.

The Boogeyman is an upcoming American supernatural horror film directed by Rob Savage from a screenplay by Scott Beck, Bryan Woods and Mark Heyman, based on the 1973 short story of the same name by Stephen King. The film stars Madison Hu, Vivien Lyra Blair, Sophie Thatcher, David Dastmalchian, Chris Messina, and Jaynie Verdin. Principal photography began in February 2022 in New Orleans. Originally planned to be released on the streaming service Hulu, The Boogeyman is scheduled to be released theatrically in the United States on June 2, 2023, by 20th Century Studios.

On June 26, 2018, it was announced filmmaking partners Scott Beck and Bryan Woods would write the screenplay with Shawn Levy, Dan Levine, and Dan Cohen attached to produce for 21 Laps Entertainment and 20th Century Fox set to distribute.[However, in 2019, after Disney's acquisition of Fox, the film was canceled, along with other films in development.  In November 2021, the film was revived, and it was reported that Rob Savage would direct from a screenplay by Mark Heyman, based on original drafts by Beck, Woods, and Akela Cooper with streaming service Hulu set to distribute.In early 2022, Sophie Thatcher, Chris Messina, David Dastmalchian, Marin Ireland, Vivien Lyra Blair, Madison Hu, and Jaynie Verdin were added to the cast. Principal photography began in February 2022 in New Orleans. Patrick Jonsson composed the film's score.

The film is scheduled to be released in the United States on June 2, 2023, by 20th Century Studios. It was originally planned to be released on Hulu in 2023,  following a positive test screening in December, it was announced that it would be switched to release theatrically on its June 2 date.  

Synopsis : 
Sadie Harper, a young high school student, and her younger sister Sawyer are still reeling from the recent death of their mother. Devastated by his own grief, their father Will, a therapist by profession, does not give them the support and affection they try to ask for. When a desperate patient shows up unannounced at their home asking for help, he brings in a terrifying entity that preys on families and feeds on their greatest suffering.

The Boogeyman
Directed by Rob Savage
Screenplay by Scott Beck, Bryan Woods, Mark Heyman
Story by Scott Beck, Bryan Woods
Based on "The Boogeyman" by Stephen King
Produced by Shawn Levy, Dan Cohen, Dan Levine
Starring  Madison Hu, Vivien Lyra Blair, Sophie Thatcher, David Dastmalchian, Chris Messina
Cinematography : Eli Born
Edited by Peter Gvozdas
Music by Patrick Jonsson
Production company : 21 Laps Entertainment
Distributed by 20th Century Studios
Release date : May 31, 2023 (France), June 2, 2023 (United States)