Neon Buys Jeff Nichols’ Horror Film ‘King Snake,’ Starring Margaret Qualley, Michael Shannon and Drew Starkey

Neon, the Oscar-winning studio behind “Parasite” and “Anora,” has acquired U.S. rights to “King Snake,” the latest feature from “Loving” and “Mud” filmmaker Jeff Nichols.

FilmNation Entertainment fully financed the Southern gothic horror project and is overseeing worldwide sales. The film stars Margaret Qualley, known for “The Substance” and “Maid,” alongside Michael Shannon, the Oscar-nominated “Revolutionary Road” actor who previously collaborated with Nichols on “Take Shelter” and “Midnight Special.” Drew Starkey, who recently gained attention for his performance in “Queer,” also stars.

The film is produced by Nichols together with his Tri-State Pictures partners Brian Kavanaugh-Jones and Sarah Green, in association with Range Media Partners. FilmNation’s Stacey Snider and Glen Basner serve as executive producers.

The deal was negotiated between Neon and FilmNation Entertainment, working in cooperation with Range Media Partners on behalf of the filmmakers. Neon plans to release “King Snake” in theaters nationwide. Principal photography began this month in Arkansas.

Nichols is widely regarded as an acclaimed auteur. His most recent film, “The Bikeriders,” starring Austin Butler, Tom Hardy, and Jodie Comer, was released to strong acclaim in 2024.

According to the official plot description, “‘King Snake’ follows a young couple (Qualley and Starkey) who inherit an Arkansas farm where they face real-world problems and supernatural forces, battling physical and metaphysical demons while confronting the property’s dark legacy.”

The announcement arrives just ahead of Cannes, where Neon will present a robust lineup. The studio has multiple films in competition, including James Gray’s “Paper Tiger,” Arthur Harari’s “The Unknown,” Cristian Mungiu’s “Fjord,” Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s “All of a Sudden,” Hirokazu Koreeda’s “Sheep in the Box,” and Na Hong-Jin’s “Hope.”

In Directors’ Fortnight, Neon will debut Arie Esiri & Chuko Esiri’s “Clarissa,” a contemporary reimagining of Virginia Woolf’s “Mrs. Dalloway,” as well as David Greaves’ Sundance title “Once Upon a Time in Harlem.” Nicolas Winding Refn’s “Her Private Hell” will screen out of competition.

Earlier this year, Neon saw major awards success with “Sentimental Value” and “The Secret Agent,” both of which were nominated for best picture, with the former winning best international feature film. The company also found box office success with “EPiC: Elvis Presley In Concert.”

Read the whole article on Variety.