Lionsgate Howls For Chandler Baker Short Story ‘Big Bad’ With Chris Landon Directing Post-‘Scream 7’ Exit; Todd Lieberman Producing Werewolf Thriller
EXCLUSIVE: Lionsgate is closing a deal to purchase a package that will have Chandler Baker adapt her short story Big Bad for Chris Landon to direct. Todd Lieberman and Hidden Pictures will produce with Landon.
It’s Landon’s first new attachment after dropping out of directing Scream 7 in a chain of events that started with Spyglass firing actress Melissa Barrera after a salvo of social media the Scream franchise backer felt was anti-Semitic. This was after the October 7 terror attack in Israel and the subsequent invasion of Gaza. Jenna Ortega then dropped out, and Landon followed.
More from Deadline
‘Scream 7’ Director Reacts To Melissa Barrera Firing: “This Was Not My Decision To Make”
Melissa Barrera Breaks Silence After ‘Scream 7’ Firing: “I Condemn Anti-Semitism And Islamophobia”
Author of the bestseller Whisper Network, Baker wrote this short story as part of the anthology novel Creature Feature. Here is the logline for what has the potential to be a howling good werewolf movie, when the story was published last fall: The Strauss family is on knife’s edge. Sam is a resentful stay-at-home dad. Rachel feels the restlessness in her blood returning. Their children are getting out of hand. And a recent mudslide has forced the wolves out of the woods to look for food. As dusk falls and tensions rise, the family must come together to survive the night — from the threats outside and those within.
Lionsgate’s Scott O’Brien will oversee the project. Carly Kleinbart is the exec for Hidden Pictures, alongside Lieberman. Alex Young will be executive producer. Lionsgate’s Robert Melnik is overseeing the dealmaking for the studio.
Baker is repped by CAA, Writers House and Mosaic, while Landon is with WME, Mosaic and Goodman Genow.
Best of Deadline
Hollywood & Media Deaths In 2024: Photo Gallery & Obituaries
2024 Premiere Dates For New & Returning Series On Broadcast, Cable & Streaming
2024 Awards Season Calendar - Dates For Oscars, Grammys, Tonys, Guilds & More
Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.