Steven Schneider of Spooky Pictures, Fandomodo COO McKenzie Van Dorne Rice, Fandomodo CEO Anthony Kaan Zach Rice Share on Facebook Share on X Share to Flipboard Send an Email Show additional share options Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on Tumblr Share on Whats App Print the Article Post a Comment Logo text Spooky Pictures, the horror-centric banner led by Steven Schneider and Roy Lee, has entered into a multi-year, multi-picture partnership with Fandomodo Films, the boutique film and television development, production and financing company. The deal has a two part aspect. It will allow Schneider and Lee to mine the independent studio's library of graphic novels it acquired in 2018 from former Relativity Media exec-turned-producer Roger Mincheff. It also aims to get Fandomodo to a point where it can greenlight three to five films every 12-18 months based on materials developed by the producers. Not every project will originate from the IP library. All films will be independently financed by Fandomodo Films and released with Spooky Pictures. The partnership is the first substantial deal negotiated by McKenzie Van Dorne Rice, Fandomodo's newly appointed COO. "Steven is the master of horror, and together with Roy they have redefined what genre films can achieve both creatively and commercially," said Fandomodo CEO Anthony Kaan. "That ability to get inside an audience's head will be the driving force behind the upcoming slate." The deal comes with its first project already pinpointed. The companies are developing horror feature Sundowning with writer-director Ian McDonald (Woman of the Hour) on board and which is eying to begin production in the first quarter of 2026 in Vancouver. The story centers on a young woman with gerontophobia who goes to work at a hospice after neglecting her dying parents. Looking for a way to redeem herself, she soon discovers that redemption may come with a cost, as the hospice hides a terrifying secret. It has been described as being a tonal cross of Suspiria and Saint Maud. It is not based on any comic book but rather a new idea by McDonald. Schneider and Lee will produce for Spooky while Kaan and Van Dorne-Rice will produce for Fandomodo. Steve Crawford, Andrew Deane, and Spooky Pictures-Image Nation's Ben Ross will executive produce. Stated Schneider, "We're always looking for projects that can surprise and capture audiences in new ways. With Fandomodo's resources and IP, we have an amazing opportunity to deliver those experiences at scale." Spooky is coming off of a, um, fantastic showing at genre film festival Fantastic Fest, where the company premiered three movies, The Plague, The Vile, and VHS Halloween. Its movies also won two awards: Plague, a psychological thriller from writer-director Charlie Polinger, won best picture in the main competition while Vile, by Majid Al Anssari, won the best horror prize. Fandomodo is currently developing Taonga, a Moari-centric drama that has James Cameron executive producing. It is also working on an untitled Calypso Project with producer/actor Carolyn Michelle Smith (The Chi). Related Stories Movies Justin Long, Kate Bosworth's Horror-Comedy 'Coyotes' Sets Fall Release (Exclusive) Movies Dakota Fanning Horror Movie 'Vicious' to Debut on Paramount+ After Removal From Theatrical Calendar THR Newsletters Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day Subscribe Sign Up San Sebastian Film Festival Why Edward Berger Made 'Ballad of a Small Player' After "an Abundance of Choice" in the Wake of His 'Conclave' Success Wicked: For Good 'Wicked: For Good' Final Trailer Sees Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo Return to Oz Heat Vision 'Something Is Killing the Children,' 'Lumberjanes' Among Boom! Studios Titles Heading to Webtoon (Exclusive) Thomas Lennon 'Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie' Review: Strictly for the Kids Screen Australia Oscars: Australia Picks 'The Wolves Always Come at Night' as International Feature Submission Virginia Film Festival Virginia Film Fest: Lineup Announced, 'Jay Kelly' Composer Nicholas Britell to Guest on Live Episode of THR's 'Awards Chatter' Podcast (Exclusive) San Sebastian Film Festival Why Edward Berger Made 'Ballad of a Small Player' After "an Abundance of Choice" in the Wake of His 'Conclave' Success Wicked: For Good 'Wicked: For Good' Final Trailer Sees Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo Return to Oz Heat Vision 'Something Is Killing the Children,' 'Lumberjanes' Among Boom! Studios Titles Heading to Webtoon (Exclusive) Thomas Lennon 'Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie' Review: Strictly for the Kids Screen Australia Oscars: Australia Picks 'The Wolves Always Come at Night' as International Feature Submission Virginia Film Festival Virginia Film Fest: Lineup Announced, 'Jay Kelly' Composer Nicholas Britell to Guest on Live Episode of THR's 'Awards Chatter' Podcast (Exclusive)