Actors LaKeith Stanfield and Ben Mendelsohn are set to star in Molepeople. The horror-thriller feature film brings together genre powerhouses Blumhouse Atomic Monster and Paramount Primal. The project was announced during the Blumhouse BlumFest panel at New York Comic Con. Director Rob Savage and Stanfield appeared on stage to share details about the subterranean movie.
Paramount Pictures will handle worldwide distribution for the feature. The studio has scheduled a theatrical release date for August 27, 2027. Production on the film is slated to begin in the United Kingdom in late November or early December.
Plot Details and Subterranean Setting
The film’s official logline centers on a man who descends into disused, abandoned tunnels running deep beneath New York City. Once underground, he discovers a disturbing, twisted society living hidden beyond the reach of the streets above. During the New York Comic Con presentation, director Rob Savage teased that the tone of the movie will follow in the visceral tradition of gritty survival horror classics like The Texas Chain Saw and The Hills Have Eyes.
The concept draws loosely from urban legends and historical New York folklore regarding communities living underground. These are similar to those documented in Jennifer Toth’s 1993 non-fiction book The Mole People: Life in the Tunnels Beneath New York City. While other notable cinematic projects have explored underground themes, such as the 1984 cult classic C.H.U.D., Savage’s film aims to deliver a fresh and terrifying experience for modern audiences.
Production Team and Cast Changes
Molepeople is directed by Rob Savage. He has built a prominent career in the horror genre with films including Host, Dashcam, The Boogeyman, and the Josh Malerman adaptation Other Mommy. The screenplay was written by Nathan Elston, marking another creative collaboration between Elston and Savage.
Casting updates revealed that LaKeith Stanfield has stepped into a lead role previously discussed for Anthony Ramos. He joins veteran actor Ben Mendelsohn. Behind the camera, the film is produced by Jason Blum alongside Paramount Primal’s J.D. Lifshitz, Raphael Margules, and James Harris. Executive producers include Ryan Turek, Tracy Rosenblum, Nathan Elston, and Rob Savage.
Extensive Genre Background for the Lead Cast
Both lead actors bring substantial credentials across genre storytelling to the production:
- LaKeith Stanfield: Known for standout performances in Jordan Peele’s Oscar-winning Get Out, The Purge: Anarchy, Netflix’s Death Note, Disney’s Haunted Mansion, and Apple TV+’s psychological thriller series The Changeling. He was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Judas and the Black Messiah.
- Ben Mendelsohn: Recognized worldwide for major franchise roles in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and the Disney+ series Andor, as well as his Primetime Emmy-winning turn in Bloodline. His genre work includes starring in HBO’s Stephen King adaptation The Outsider.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the release date for Molepeople?
Paramount Pictures has scheduled Molepeople for a worldwide theatrical release on August 27, 2027.
Who is directing Molepeople?
The horror thriller is directed by filmmaker Rob Savage, known for his work on Host and The Boogeyman, from a screenplay written by Nathan Elston.
Which studios are producing the film?
The project is a collaborative effort co-financed and co-produced by Blumhouse Atomic Monster and Paramount Primal, with Paramount managing global theatrical distribution.
What is the premise of the movie?
The story follows a man who ventures into the abandoned subterranean tunnels beneath New York City and stumbles upon a disturbing, hidden society living underground.
When and where does production begin?
Principal photography for Molepeople is scheduled to kick off in the United Kingdom in late November or early December.
