The release of the first trailer for “The Monkey,” a supernatural horror film inspired by a short story by Stephen King, has generated excitement among fans. Osgood Perkins, known for his work on “Longlegs,” directs this film featuring Theo James from “The White Lotus,” who plays twin brothers Hal and Bill.
The ensemble cast also includes Tatiana Maslany (“She-Hulk”), Elijah Wood (“The Lord of the Rings”), Laura Mennell (“Batwoman”), Christian Convery (“Sweet Tooth”), Sarah Levy (“Schitt’s Creek”), Rohan Campbell (“The Hardy Boys”), Colin O’Brien (“Dear Edward”), and Corin Clark (“Upload”).
Directed by Osgood Perkins, known for “Longlegs,” this supernatural horror film stars Theo James in a dual role as twin brothers Hal and Bill
The logline offers a chilling premise: when Bill and Hal discover their father’s old monkey toy in the attic, it triggers a series of horrific events. In an attempt to rid themselves of the dark influence, the brothers decide to dispose of the toy and try to move on, but their lives take separate paths over the years.
The teaser trailer showcases a shadowy, menacing monkey poised to play a drum set in front of a bloodied Theo James. As his character gradually removes his glasses, the camera shifts to reveal the film’s title, culminating in a close-up of the creature’s teeth before fading to black.
Perkins has previously contributed to the horror genre with films like “Gretel & Hansel” in 2020 and “Longlegs,” which premiered on July 12, 2024. He takes on screenwriting duties for this project, with producers including James Wan, Michael Clear, Dave Caplan, Brian Kavanaugh-Jones, and Chris Ferguson.
James Wan, known for his role as co-creator of hits like “Saw,” “Insidious,” “The Conjuring,” “Annabelle,” “The Nun,” and “M3GAN,” is producing this film under his Atomic Monster banner.
He is also involved in another adaptation of King’s work, “Salem’s Lot,” alongside Clear. Following a competitive bidding process for domestic distribution rights at the Marché du Film last May, Neon has secured the film for release.
