Josh Malerman’s novel, Incidents Around the House (both pictured above), is getting a film adaptation helmed by director Rob Savage (The Boogeyman), and the casting is already underway.
Today, Deadline reported that Jay Duplass (Dying for Sex) has joined Jessica Chastain (Crimson Peak, It: Chapter Two, Zero Dark Thirty) in the production.
The book, which is nominated for a 2024 Bram Stoker award, was adapted for the big screen by Nathan Elston (Succession) and also has James Wan’s Atomic Monster production company behind it, along with Blumhouse. This is not Malerman’s first adaptation; he’s also the author behind Bird Box, which Netflix adapted into a feature starring Sandra Bullock. That’s a lot of proven talent working behind and in front of the camera, which bodes well for the final film.
Here’s a synopsis of Incidents Around the House, per Deadline:
The book centers on eight-year-old Bela, who lives in a home strained by her parents’ troubled marriage, only to see her life further upended by a sinister entity she calls “Other Mommy.” When this malevolent presence emerges from her closet, persistently asking, “Can I go inside your heart?”, Bela refuses. But soon, Other Mommy’s manifestations become increasingly aggressive, threatening the safety of Bela’s family.
While it’s not confirmed, it’s a good guess that Duplass and Chastain will play the parents of poor Bela.
No news yet on when the movie, which will be distributed by Universal Pictures, will scare its way to a theater near you.