U.S. pop star and budding actress Halsey is set to star in Replacer, a “psycho-sexual horror” written by the singer and actor-director Avan Jogia, with Jogia directing, and Lilly Wachowski exec-producing.
The synopsis reads: “Stranded in Montreal, Proxy (Halsey), a troubled DJ, meets an alluring artist and his group of friends who run an underground radio station. The station’s broadcast becomes warped by a mysterious signal hidden deep beneath the city’s subway system. Proxy must escape before the sound turns her, and her new friends, into something raw, primal, and unrecognizable.”
The project is launching sales at this week’s Cannes market, with CAA Media Finance and UTA Independent Film Group representing North American rights and Film Mode Entertainment handling international sales.
Halsey — the three-time Grammy nominee who has taken on a few film roles in recent years including MaXXXine — and Jogia — the actor-turned director who starred in Zombieland: Double Tap and has Backrooms upcoming — will be in Cannes supporting the launch and meeting with buyers as the film is introduced to the marketplace.
Produced by Kyle Mann of Independent Edge, Isabelle Deluce of Soft Focus Films, Damiano Tucci of Getaway Entertainment, in association with Anarchists United. The film is being executive-produced by Lilly Wachowski, Anthony Li, Lawrence Mattis, Sarah Flores, Christopher Renteria, Emily McCann Lesser, and Clay Epstein of Film Mode Entertainment. Olivier Picard and David Pierrat of Parce Que Films are co-producing.
Lilly Wachowski commented: “Avan and Halsey’s script is a surreal hyper-dive into a twitchy, conspiratorial genre mashing snarl of horror/thriller/comedy, set against the grit and grime of a rarely glimpsed Montreal subculture. This thing is packed! I have the sense that Avan’s eyeballs have gulped down a steady diet of the films I grew up on- David Cronenberg, Alex Cox, Tony Scott, John Carpenter. Anarchists United is beyond excited to join the Replacer team and bring this super cool story to the screen!”
Jogia commented: “Replacer is a bright and electric club horror mashed together with a vulnerable romantic story about belonging and community. Come together. Leave as one.”
Halsey is represented by UTA and Anthony Li. Jogia is represented by CAA and Berwick & Kovacik.