The Horror Section, the media company dedicated to creating the world’s premier genre brand, has announced the cast for Eli Roth’s much-anticipated horror thriller Ice Cream Man. The film stars Ari Millen (“Orphan Black”, Vicious Fun, The Oak Room) in the title role, alongside Benjamin Byron Davis (Guardians of the Galaxy 3), Karen Cliche (Thanksgiving), Dylan Hawco (Heartland), Sarah Abbott (“Black Mirror”, The Body), Shiloh O’Reilly (Thanksgiving), Kiori Mirza Waldman, Charlie Zeltzer (“The Handmaid’s Tale”), and Charlie Storey (Thanksgiving).
Roth himself, the visionary behind the Cabin Fever and Hostel franchises, joins the cast while also serving as writer, director, and producer alongside longtime collaborator Noah Belson. The script generated significant buzz during its Cannes market debut, selling nearly the entire world. Producers include Christopher Woodrow and Raj Singh of Media Capital Technologies (MCT), alongside Kate Harrison of Cream Productions. Executive producers are Kevin Frakes, Connor DiGregorio, Eli Massillon, Lorenzo Antonucci, Jon Schnaars, and Holly Adams.
The film’s chill factor will be amped up by a score from Emmy Award®-winning composer Brandon Roberts (Clown in a Cornfield, Forgive Us All), with additional music by Snoop Dogg, which the film’s horrifying prosthetic effects are provided by Steve Newburn (Thanksgiving) and Academy Award® winner Adrien Morot (Thanksgiving, The Whale).
Ice Cream Man follows the unraveling of an idyllic summer town when a seemingly innocent ice cream man begins serving children treats with nightmarish consequences. The film wrapped principal photography in September and is scheduled for wide theatrical release in 2026. STUDIOCANAL’s Sixth Dimension has acquired distribution rights in the UK and Ireland.
“I couldn’t be more excited about the incredible cast we’ve assembled for Ice Cream Man,” said Roth. “It’s surreal to see the idea I’ve had for over twenty years come to life – and with this insanely talented cast, we get to deliver a film to horror fans that’s as terrifying as I’ve always imagined.”
This marks Roth’s first film under The Horror Section banner, following the company’s launch in March 2025. Founded in partnership with MCT, the company curates premium intellectual property across films, television, games, and podcasts, while creating immersive horror-centric experiences. To date, the banner has released Joe Begos’ 16mm splatterfest Jimmy and Stiggs and Jay Drakulic, Mallory Drumm, and Alex Lee Williams’ found-footage styled Dream Eater, the latter of which Roth himself calls one of the scariest films of the year. Alongside Ice Cream Man, other upcoming projects include Don’t Go In That House, Bitch!, with Snoop Dogg contributing as producer, writer, and performer on the soundtrack.
