David Bruckner Will Direct Sydney Sweeney in Universal’s New Film ‘The Caretaker’
Universal Pictures has chosen not to comment on recent developments concerning the upcoming film The Caretaker. Michael Bay and Brad Fuller will produce the project through Platinum Dunes, under their first-look deal with the studio. Scott Glassgold from 12:01 Films and Sweeney will also be involved. Previously, Karl Gajdusek and Drew Crevello contributed earlier drafts of the script.
In The Caretaker, a troubled young woman takes a position at an isolated coastal home, only to find herself bound by a series of increasingly unsettling rules meant to contain a reality-warping force that may be slipping from her grasp.
The news of Sweeney’s involvement was first reported in October 2022, when Universal acquired the rights to the property following a competitive bidding process. The story has its origins as a short narrative, which Kliewer later expanded into his second novel released on April 21 by Simon & Schuster’s Atria imprint 12:01 Books. Kliewer’s debut, We Used To Live Here, achieved bestseller status in 2024, establishing him as a noteworthy voice in literary horror.
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Director David Bruckner, known for his work in the genre, most recently directed a reboot of Clive Barker’s Hellraiser for Hulu. His previous projects include The Night House, a psychological horror film starring Rebecca Hall, released by Searchlight Pictures, and The Ritual, a horror film based on Adam Nevill’s novel distributed by Netflix. He has also contributed to several installments of the V/H/S anthology series, including the 2023 release, V/H/S/85.
The Hollywood Reporter was the first to announce Bruckner’s involvement in The Caretaker.
