Thanksgiving star Nell Verlaque is eagerly anticipating another round of chilling thrills at the dinner table. Eli Roth, famed for his unique approach to horror cinema, has been keeping himself busy, perhaps as a palate cleanser following his action-adventure film Borderlands. Among his forthcoming projects is the spine-tingling slasher, The Ice Cream Man, as well as an intriguing German remake of Knock Knock. Roth is also partnering with Construction Films to direct the giallo-inspired feature, Final Cut, which boasts the experienced German actress Veronica Ferres as a co-founder of the studio. Although whispers of a sequel to his Grindhouse classic are circulating, it may be on the horizon sooner than one might think.
According to a report by Variety, Verlaque recently spilled the beans about the impending production of Thanksgiving 2, with filming set to commence this year. The actress divulged that she has glimpsed parts of the script and engaged in brainstorming sessions with Roth. Verlaque passionately articulated her hopes, stating, “I want to be drenched in blood. I told him I really wanted to be tortured. Like fully pained [and] tortured. I think it’s more fun as an actor. The crazier, the better for me.” Her comments reflect a commitment to pushing boundaries and embracing the intensity that fans of horror crave.
In addition to directing the upcoming films, Roth has his sights set on a potential Hostel television series, rumored to star Paul Giamatti in the lead role. Yet, his immediate focus is on The Ice Cream Man, which is slated to start filming this summer. Roth described the project in a recent press statement, saying, “I’ve had this concept for ages, but studios shied away from my earlier drafts. Now’s the time to push the envelope further than ever—I believe this will be my most terrifying and insane film to date. Projects like Ice Cream Man embody what we envisioned for The Horror Section: to create unrated, boundary-pushing cinema that horror fans can relish for years to come. I’m fortunate to have amazing collaborators like MCT, and of course, the investors in The Horror Section.” His remarks underline a decisive shift toward a more avant-garde exploration of horror that is sure to enthrall fans.
Financing for The Ice Cream Man comes from Christopher Woodrow and Raj Singh at Media Capital Technologies, who expressed enthusiastic support for the project, stating, “Working with Eli is always a privilege, and this film feels fresh and exciting as it’s his first original project in the independent market in nearly a decade. We believe Ice Cream Man will herald the beginning of the next major horror franchise with substantial commercial potential.” This partnership hints at a promising future for horror aficionados, as both filmmakers and financiers are keen on revolutionizing the genre.
