RLJE Films and Shudder, AMC Networks‘ premium streaming service, which has become synonymous with exclusive horror content, have acquired the U.S. distribution rights to Eli Craig‘s (Tucker & Dave vs. Evil, Little Evil) Clown in a Cornfield, an adaptation of Adam Cesare‘s eponymous Bram Stoker Award-winning horror novel.
From Temple Hill Entertainment, the production team previously responsible for he smash hit shocker Smile, Clown in a Cornfield stars Katie Douglas (Ginny & Georgia), Carson MacCormac (Shazam!), Aaron Abrams (“Hannibal”), Will Sasso (The Three Stooges), and Kevin Durand (Abigail, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes).
The film’s screenplay was adapted by Carter Blanchard and Craig and centers on Quinn (Douglas), and her father (Abrams), who have recently relocated to the seemingly tranquil town of Kettle Springs anticipating a fresh start. But, what she finds instead is a fractured community that has succumbed to economic hardship in the wake of the Baypen Corn Syrup Factory having burnt down. As the townsfolk contend with their differences and mounting tensions, a malevolent, grinning figure emerges from the cornfields, seeking to purge the town of its collective burdens, one bloody victim at a time. So, welcome to Kettle Springs, where the film’s real fun begins when Frendo the Clown rears his disquieting head.
RLJE Films’ Chief Acquisition Officer Mark Ward expressed his enthusiasm in a recent statement, saying, “Adam Cesare’s ‘Clown’ series has been on my radar for some time now, and we are pumped to bring Eli Craig’s harrowing, savage, heart-pounding adaptation to the big screen in 2025.”
Director Eli Craig added, “I’m thrilled to partner with RLJE Films and Shudder to release this insanely fun action, horror, comedy where we always wanted it to be seen — in theaters! As always in my movies, there’s a deeper theme about the collision of perspectives and ideals that leads to utter mayhem. It was fun in this one, however, to let the horror thrills take the lead, while the comedic absurdity that I can’t help but see in life brings a bit of levity.”
HarperCollins has found tremendous success in recent years with Cesare’s “Clown in a Cornfield” franchise. The series first debuted in 2020 with the release of the original novel, simply titled “Clown in Cornfield,” which was met with widespread acclaim. True to the demand, HarperCollins moved quickly to publish the second installment, “Clown in a Cornfield II: Frendo Lives,” in 2022. A third entry, “Clown in a Cornfield III: The Church of Frendo,” debuted this past August 2024 and has since become a USA Today Bestseller.
Clown in a Cornfield is executive produced by Jean-Luc De Fanti, Max Work and Kostas Tsoukalas for Rhea Films, Petersen Harris and George Berman for Temple Hill, Dave Bishop and George Hamilton for Protagonist Pictures, Daniel Bekerman for Scythia Films Inc., Myron John Tataryn for Thundersnow Pictures, and Carter Blanchard. It is produced by Marty Bowen, Wyck Godfrey, Isaac Klausner, and John Fischer for Temple Hill and Paris Kassidokostas-Latsis and Terry Dougas for Rhea Films. The film was financed by Hercules Film Fund and is both a Temple Hill and Rhea Films production.
The deal was negotiated by Mark Ward on behalf of RLJE Films and Shudder, and by Hal Sadoff and Lina Marrone on behalf of the filmmakers. Protagonist Pictures is hadnling international rights.
Clown in a Cornfield will release theatrically on May 9, 2025, under RLJE Films.
