JEFFREY DEAN MORGAN AND BENJAMIN EVAN AINSWORTH STAR IN THE HORROR THRILLER FILM “FELIX” FROM PRODUCER JOE CARNAHAN
HIGHLAND FILM GROUP TO HANDLE WORLDWIDE RIGHTS
Jeffrey Dean Morgan (AMC’s Emmy-winning “The Walking Dead,” Warner Bros.’ Watchmen) andBenjamin Evan Ainsworth (Netflix’s “The Haunting of Bly Manor,” Disney’s upcoming Pinocchio) are set to star in the new horror thriller film Felix, it was announced today.
Written by Casey Giltner and directed by John Kissack (the horror thriller Everfall), the film is set to start principal photography this spring.
Felix is produced by Joe Carnahan (Hulu’s Boss Level, Open Road’s The Grey), Jayson Therrien (FX’s “Fargo,” Netflix’s “Black Summer”) and Kissack. Highland Film Group is representing worldwide rights, with sales underway.
“We could not be more thrilled to reteam with Joe Carnahan after the success of Hulu’s Boss Level starring Mel Gibson and Frank Grillo. We are so excited to have the incredibly talented Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth join our Felix family and bring these roles to life,” said Highland Film Group CEO Arianne Fraser. “This Super 8 meets Child’s Play thriller is a nail-biting and suspenseful horror film. We cannot wait to see cameras roll on this totally awesome project,” added Highland COO Delphine Perrier.
In this unique and chilling tale, Charlie (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth) and his best friend Jimmy are making a movie with dreams of becoming Hollywood directors. When Charlie’s Dad (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) finds an old ventriloquist doll named Felix among his late mother’s belongings, Charlie and Jimmy immediately cast Felix as the creepy antagonist in their movie. Through a chain of increasingly sinister and disturbing events, the family discovers that Felix has a mind of his own and it’s up to Charlie and Jimmy to rid their family of this ominous force they’ve awoken.
Jeffrey Dean Morgan is known for his role as Negan in AMC’s Emmy-winning series “The Walking Dead” and will next star in AMC’s new spinoff series “Isle of the Dead” with his “Walking” co-star Lauren Cohan. His film credits include Watchmen directed by Zack Snyder, Rampage starring Dwayne Johnson and Naomie Harris and The Losers starring Zoe Saldana, Chris Evans and Idris Elba – all three for Warner Bros. His additional TV credits include the recurring role of Denny Duquette on Shonda Rhimes’ long-running series “Grey’s Anatomy” and CBS’ political drama series “The Good Wife.”
Benjamin Evan Ainsworth has made quite the wave in his short time on the screen. His breakout role came as Miles Wingrave in Netflix’s mini-series “The Haunting of Bly Manor.” In 2021, he held his own alongside comedy stars Ben Schwartz and Alyson Hannigan in Disney’s Flora & Ulysses. Ainsworth most recently was seen starring in the new Lionsgate series “Son of a Critch” that premiered in January. Next up this year is David S. Goyer’s epic adaptation of the comic “Sandman” for Netflix. He also stars in the titular role in Disney’s upcoming live-action adaptation of Pinocchio, directed by Robert Zemeckis and also starring Tom Hanks.
Morgan is represented by UTA, attorney Stuart Rosenthal of Goodman, Genow, Schenkman, Smelkinson & Christopher and Viewpoint. Ainsworth is represented by Alan Siegel Entertainment, ICM Partners, Mark Jermin Management and Paul Hastings.
Highland Film Group’s current sales slate of films also includes Daniel Casey’s Wardriver starring Dane DeHaan and Sophie Turner; Rusty Cundieff’s 57 Seconds starring Morgan Freeman and Josh Hutcherson; John Stalberg Jr.’s Muzzle starring Aaron Eckhart; One True Loves starring Shang-Chi’s Simu Liu, Phillipa Soo and Luke Bracey; Adrian Grünberg’s thriller The Black Demon starring Josh Lucas; James Cullen Bressack’s Hot Seat starring Mel Gibson and Kevin Dillon; K. Asher Levin’s Slayers starring Thomas Jane, Abigail Breslin and Malin Akerman; Renny Harlin’s The Misfits starring Pierce Brosnan, Nick Cannon and Tim Roth; Allan Ungar’s Banditstarring Josh Duhamel, Mel Gibson and Elisha Cuthbert; Stephan Rick’s The Good Neighbor starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Luke Kleintank and Avan Jogia’s Door Mouse starring Hayley Law, Famke Janssen and Keith Powers.
ABOUT HIGHLAND FILM GROUP
Check out the new and improved website: https://highlandfilmgroup.com/
Led by founding partners Arianne Fraser and Delphine Perrier, Highland Film Group (HFG) is an independent worldwide sales, film financing, production and distribution company. Launched in 2010, HFG has had success across a wide range of film genres and platforms, building a reputation for handling high-octane films in the action/thriller/horror space, focusing on cast, director, and filmmaker driven content.
HFG’s diversified production and sales slate includes Daniel Casey’s Wardriver starring Dane DeHaan and Sophie Turner; Rusty Cundieff’s 57 Seconds starring Morgan Freeman and Josh Hutcherson; John Stalberg Jr.’s Muzzle starring Aaron Eckhart; Andy Fickman’s One True Loves starring Simu Liu, Phillipa Soo and Luke Bracey; Adrian Grünberg’s The Black Demon starring Josh Lucas; James Cullen Bressack’s Hot Seat starring Mel Gibson and Kevin Dillon; Mark Earl Burman’s Ambush starring Aaron Eckhart; K. Asher Levin’s Slayers starring Thomas Jane, Abigail Breslin and Malin Akerman; Casey Tebo’s Black Friday! starring Devon Sawa and Bruce Campbell; Mauro Borelli’s Warhunt starring Mickey Rourke; Stephan Rick’s The Good Neighbor starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Luke Kleintank; Andrew Baird’s One Way starring Colson Baker, Kevin Bacon and Travis Fimmel; Edward Drake’s Gasoline Alleystarring Bruce Willis, Luke Wilson and Devon Sawa; Mark Neveldine’s Panama starring Mel Gibson and Cole Hauser; Fortress starring Bruce Willis; Avan Joglia’s Door Mouse starring Hayley Law, Famke Janssen and Keith Powers; Allan Ungar’s Bandit starring Josh Duhamel, Mel Gibson and Elisha Cuthbert; The Lair directed by Neil Marshall; Randall Emmett’s Wash Me In The River starring Robert De Niro, Jack Huston and John Malkovich; Herbert James Winterstern’s Supercell starring Alec Baldwin and Anne Heche; Petr Jakl’s Medieval starring Ben Foster and Michael Caine; John D. Eraklis’ and Tara Whitaker’s Pierre the Pigeon-Hawk with the voices of will.i.am, Jennifer Hudson, Snoop Dogg, Whoopi Goldberg and Howie Mandel; The Tiger Rising starring Queen Latifah and Dennis Quaid; and Renny Harlin’s The Misfits starring Pierce Brosnan, Nick Cannon and Tim Roth.
Previous titles include Joe Carnahan’s Boss Level starring Naomi Watts, Mel Gibson and Frank Grillo; Dimitri Logothetis’ Jiu Jitsustarring Nicolas Cage and Tony Jaa; Lin Oeding’s thriller Braven starring Jason Momoa; Scott Mann’s Final Score starring Dave Bautista and Pierce Brosnan; Berlin, I Love You with Helen Mirren, Keira Knightley, Jim Sturgess, Mickey Rourke, Diego Luna and Jenna Dewan Tatum; Vaughn Stein’s Terminal starring Margot Robbie.
