EXCLUSIVE: Jayden Bartels, star of hit streaming series Goosebumps: The Vanishing, has signed for the lead role in MJ Bassett-directed suspense thriller Lullaby, which is poised to shoot in this fall.
Bartels plays Jessica, a pregnant teen who tries to take her life but is rescued by a lonely woman who nurses her back to health, with the ulterior motive of stealing the infant and then finishing off what she originally stopped.
UK writer, producer and director Bassett (Red Sonja, Reacher) directs from a script co-written by Tim Sullivan with Edward A. Romero and Chris Roe. Ken F. Levin (The Boys, Preacher) at NightSky Productions is producing. Bassett’s sword and sorcery movie Red Sonja will be released by Samuel Goldwyn Films later this year.
“Once I read the script, I immediately understood and felt a connection to Jessica,” said Bartels. “I was both excited and terrified for this role because just like Jessica, sometimes in order to grow into your true self, you must face your fears head on. This inspiring story coupled with MJ’s vision will leave audiences impacted long after seeing the film.”
Bassett suggests the story is reminiscent of Rob Reiner’s 1991 psychological horror thriller Misery, adapted from Stephen King’s eponymous novel.
“I was captivated by the depth and nuance of the characters’ journeys,” she says. “It has echoes of Misery, but to me is more fascinating because of its conversation about motherhood and that compelling desire to nurture – and at times possess.”
Levin will be introducing the project to buyers to the Cannes Film Festival’s Marché du Film, under the banner of NightSky Productions.
“We are hugely excited to share Lullaby with buyers at Cannes,” said Levin. “We’ve got a white-hot director, an incredibly talented young star, and a unique story that will terrify genre audiences of all ages.”
The movie is produced in association with Sullivan at New Rebellion Entertainment; Andy Schefter at Impossible Gardens; Bryan Patrick McCulley at Untitled Waves Entertainment and Chris Roe at Tea Time Productions.
Bartels stars as Cece in the second season of hit Disney+ hit series Goosebumps, inspired by R.L. Stine’s worldwide bestselling books. Previously, she starred in Side Hustle, the Nickelodeon show developed specifically for her, with her many other credits including Group Chat with Jayden & Brent and Alert: Missing Persons Unit.
Bassett began her career as part of the “new wave of British Horror” in the early 2000s. She has directed a raft of TV hits including Reacher, Strike Back, Ash Vs. Evil Dead, Equalizer, Terminal List, Altered Carbon, Power, Quantum Leap and most recently Fubar with Arnold Schwarzenegger. Her feature credits include Deathwatch, Solomon Kane, Silent Hill: Revelation, and upcoming release Red Sonja.
Veteran producer Levin’s credits include all the Hellboy feature film deals; executive producing four seasons of Preacher for AMC; handling the rights to the Steven Spielberg/Tom Hanks feature Road to Perdition, as well as setting up and executive producing The Boys. He is currently producing the horror film Crossed, from Garth Ennis’ screenplay based on his comic book series, filming on which is set to start this June in L.A.
Bartels is repped by CAA/Randy James Management/DDO Artists Agency; Levin by CAA, Bassett by Ragina Nervik Management.
