Eli Roth and Leonardo DiCaprio Collaborate with QC Entertainment on Jessica Chandler’s Film ‘Death Boom’
Eli Roth Partners with Leonardo DiCaprio for Documentary on Death Care Industry
Eli Roth, alongside Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way Productions and QC Entertainment, has begun work on a groundbreaking documentary titled Death Boom. Directed by Jessica Chandler, known for her film A Fine State This Is, this feature-length exposé examines the contemporary death care industry and its profound environmental and psychological impacts.
Currently in post-production, Death Boom follows Roth and Appian Way’s previous collaboration on the acclaimed shark-finning documentary Fin, which played a pivotal role in the cessation of shark-killing tournaments along the East Coast of the United States.
As a “spiritual follow-up” to Fin, Death Boom aims to reveal the detrimental effects of embalming, cremation, and traditional burial methods on individuals, families, and workers in the death care sector. The documentary focuses particularly on the impending challenges posed by the passing of 77 million baby boomers and highlights the political, religious, and corporate corruption that hampers the adoption of greener, more sustainable death care practices.
The documentary promises to explore potential solutions should these eco-friendly methods become more widely implemented and to foster open discussions regarding death and grief.
Roth not only serves as a producer but also narrates the documentary, appearing on screen alongside Chandler. DiCaprio, who recently garnered acclaim for One Battle After Another, produces the film alongside Jennifer Davisson and Phillip Watson for Appian Way. Raymond Mansfield and Sean McKittrick represent QC Entertainment, with Edward H. Hamm, Jr. serving as an executive producer.
QC Entertainment, known for financing critically lauded films like Get Out and BlacKkKlansman, will manage the project’s distribution with assistance from WME Independent.
Roth expressed deep commitment to the project, stating, “Jessica Chandler and I have wanted to make this film for over twenty years… revealing the poisoning of our bodies and land that contaminates our water, air, and food.” He emphasized a non-blame approach, focusing on existing solutions that are currently hindered by financial interests vested in maintaining the traditional death care system. Roth described the film as a means to foster understanding rather than an attack on an industry.
Jennifer Davisson, President of Appian Way, noted the importance of this project. “At Appian Way, we are drawn to stories that empower us to look at the systems we’ve long taken for granted,” she remarked, underscoring the film’s focus on environmental preservation and human dignity.
QC Entertainment partners McKittrick, Mansfield, and Hamm highlighted the documentary’s urgent nature, stating, “Death Boom is exactly the kind of urgent, unflinching storytelling we built QC Entertainment to champion.” They praised Chandler’s work for confronting the real costs associated with death handling in America while presenting available solutions.
As the documentary prepares for release, it aims to challenge existing narratives around death care and invigorate a national dialogue on the subject.
