Magnet Releasing to back “XX” female-driven horror anthology

PanARMENIAN.Net - Magnet Releasing has signed on to back XX, a new horror anthology with a gender twist – all segments will be helmed by female directors and will star female leads. Karyn Kusama (Girlfight, Jennifer’s Body), Mary Harron (American Psycho), Jennifer Lynch (Surveillance), and Jovanka Vuckovic have been tapped to direct the project, which is heading for completion in 2015 with producer Dwjuan Fox overseeing. As part of the deal, Magnet is taking worldwide distribution rights, Deadline reported.

Horror anthologies are the concept du jour of late at Magnolia-owned Magnet, which previously released both the V/H/S and ABCs of Death omnibus projects. Both have spawned sequels; ABCs of Death 2 will be released this Halloween, while V/H/S: Viral, the third entry in the found footage anthology series, is also heading towards a theatrical/digital debut in November.

The XX project serves two under-represented sectors: Female-driven films, and female-driven horror films. “We believe strongly in fostering the best talents around the world at XYZ. We believe different perspectives are what keep storytelling fresh and exciting and hope that XX can help to encourage more female writers and directors to explore the genre world. And we know the ones we have for this first effort are going to absolutely kick ass,” said XYZ’s Todd Brown. Magnolia’s Christina Roger will be taking XX to AFM next month. The company’s VP of Acquisitions Peter Van Steemburg and Head of Business Affairs & Production Chris Matson negotiated the deal with Todd Brown and Nick Spicer of XYZ Films.