Controversial horror movies are nothing new to Cineverse. The company’s most recent release is Damien Leone’s Terrifier 3, starring David Howard Thornton as Art the Clown. A Silent Night, Deadly Night reboot is officially in the works by Cineverse, which was announced via Deadline.
When the 1984 horror film was released, parents were outraged by what they saw as an attack on Christmas and Santa Claus. This was primarily due to the film’s promotion, which showed the then-shocking image of a killer Santa. The poster and television commercials were deemed too frightening for children who still believed in Santa Claus, prompting people to gather in front of theaters with signs. Some groups would even sing Christmas carols during the protests.
Silent Night, Deadly Night, written by Paul Caimi and Michael Hickey and directed by Charles E. Sellier Jr., centers on Billy, a young boy who watches as his parents are brutally murdered by a man dressed as Santa. Billy gets released at the age of 18 from the abusive Catholic orphanage where he was raised, only to have his Christmas trauma surface in horrific ways while working at a toy store.
Dressed as Santa Claus, Billy starts “punishing” people during the company’s after-hours Christmas party. He soon continues the slaughter outside the store, determined to exact revenge at the orphanage.
Mike P. Nelson (Wrong Turn reboot, V/H/S/85) will write and direct the reboot, and original executive producers Scott Schneid and Dennis Whitehead will also be involved.
RELATED: ‘Silent Night, Deadly Night’: 10 Things You May Not Know
Executive Director Brandon Hill told Deadline, “I have always been a huge fan of Silent Night, Deadly Night and can’t wait to bring Mike’s vision to fellow fans of iconic slashers. As we have seen this year, there continues to be incredible demand for independent horror films with bite, and we believe this can deliver strong audiences from theatrical to home entertainment and streaming.”
Nelson said, “The opportunity to work with producers involved with the original Silent Night, Deadly Night and to partner with the Terrifier 3 team is an honor. I’ll never forget walking into the video store at the mini-mall when I was 5 and seeing that poster for the original film. I was in awe and started imagining what horrifying things would happen. To be a part of the film’s legacy many years later is insane! I’m looking forward to getting production underway, and unleashing my new take on this compelling story. Billy is back!”
The film is expected to be released in time for the 2025 holiday season.