Wayward Entertainment’s upcoming horror anthology series “Tales from the Woods” reimagines classic fairy tales from a horror lens from prominent horror filmmakers, and the first two episodes are set to debut this week at Fantastic Fest.

“Tales from the Woods” is targeting an early 2026 streaming launch after its festical run.

Part of that festival run includes Mattie Do‘s The Sleeping Beauty and Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead‘s Jacques the Giant Slayer, both making their US debut this week at Fantastic Fest as the first two installments of the series.

It’s the latest horror anthology series from Wayward Entertainment partner and producer John Hegeman (Holidays, Hulu’s Into the Dark), and it reimagines the dark origins of the world’s most beloved fairy tales in short form.

Hegeman says “Most of the Fairy Tales we all have come to love were pretty dark and took the concept of “a cautionary tale” to the extreme. We are excited to team up with amazing filmmakers from around the world, and kicking things off with Mattie, Aaron, and Justin in launching the series.”

Do says of The Sleeping Beauty, “One of the most incredible moments I have is sharing The Sleeping Beauty with audiences and seeing how horror and fairytales cross all boundaries and cultures, regardless of where we are from. I’m so excited to share my dark and exotic twist on a familiar fairytale.” Mattie continues “I’m delighted to be back at Fantastic Fest with The Sleeping Beauty, the first film festival I had ever attended and the fest that made me realize that I was and continue to be a storyteller. Fantastic Fest feels like coming home.”

Benson and Moorhead, who also star in their episode, said of Jacques the Giant Slayer, “We’ve had the profound luck of making quite a few films in the last decade, but as time has gone on we don’t always get to run wild with the weird spirit of our indie film work. For us Jacques the Giant Slayer is a return to running wild – vintage Rustic Films, all of us guzzling distilled weirdness from start to finish. The fact that we get to premiere it at Fantastic Fest is not only fitting, but just as much of an honor as it was when we premiered SPRING in those hallowed, movie-postered halls in 2014. We hope everyone enjoys it, but if they don’t we know it’ll still be cool – we’re back home with everyone in Austin, and that’s always special.”

Check out key art for the first two episodes and read on for episode details.

The Sleeping Beauty

The wife of a colonial governor confronts devastation after her aristocratic son removes a slumbering woman from an ancient temple in the jungles of Laos – only to bring home a curse that refuses to die.

●        Directed by: Mattie Do (Dearest Sister, The Long Walk) 

●        Written by: Christopher Sean Larsen

●        Cast: Sonedala Sihavong, Phonesavanh “Tata” Phimpha, Gabriel Soutphilabaideng, Sivilay Ouanephongchareune

 

Jacques the Giant Slayer

In this dark interpretation of Jack and the Beanstalk, an early 20th century archeologist makes a profound discovery.

●        Directed by: Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead (“Daredevil,” “Loki,” Spring, The Endless)

●        Cast: Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead