Race-related horror thriller 'Infidel' gets picked up by TriStar, Michael Sugar to produce adapted movie
Film production company TriStar Pictures has bought the rights to the horror comic 'Infidel' from Pornsak Pichetshote, a former DC/Vertigo editor, and artist Aaron Campbell.
Oscar-winning producer and executive producer for Netflix's '13 Reasons Why', Michael Sugar, will produce the adapted comic along with Ashley Zalta under the Sugar23 flag. Anonymous Content is also set to have a producing role.
The comic has been described as a haunted-house story for the 21st Century. When it comes to the plot, it revolves around an American-Muslim woman who has neighbors of different races. They all live in the same building which is plagued with weird creatures that apparently love to feast on xenophobia.
The first issue of the comic was released in March by Image Comics, the publishers. They made the deal with TriStar Pictures that is said to be low on the rung of six-figures and was apparently picked from a competition. In a style that is similar to Jordan Peele's 'Get Out', the themes in Infidel are race related and also had elements of horror.
Nicole Brown, the senior VP at TriStar, will be supervising the project with Nick Krishnamurthy. She said in a statement: "Audiences are responding to fresh, timely stories that, like Infidel, can resonate through the current state of our culture. Infidel has those provocative elements to create a touchstone thriller."
Michael Sugar said in a statement: "At Sugar23, we want to produce projects that are unexpected, wholly original and speak to the truth of contemporary society. Infidel is the epitome of one of those stories, equal parts mystery, social critique and genre thriller."
Pichetshote and Campbell said in a joint statement: "Every aspect of creating Infidel came from laying bare our very personal fears regarding the times we're in. The fact that it's struck a chord at all, much less been subject to such competition to adapt it, is enormously flattering."
Pichetshote worked at DC/Vertigo and was a key editor while Campbell has been an artist for a long time and worked on comics like The Shadow and Green Hornet.