Emma Roberts Takes the Lead in Horror Film ‘A Body In The Woods’ from ‘Longlegs’ Producer; Exciting Debut for New Seller Manifest at EFM
Emma Roberts to Star in Upcoming Horror Film "A Body In The Woods"
Emma Roberts, known for her roles in American Horror Story and Scream 4, is set to star in the horror film A Body In The Woods. The project, produced by Dave Caplan, who has previously worked on Longlegs and The Monkey, marks a significant development for the newly established U.S. sales firm, Manifest Pictures.
The film will kick off pre-sales this week at the European Film Market in Berlin, bringing attention to its promising lineup. Roberts will portray Alice Lincoln, a woman navigating the eerie atmosphere of the Marshall Woods at the turn of the century. As Alice keeps vigil over the body of an unidentified mine worker in her remote cabin, she encounters unsettling disturbances that lead her to suspect that the corpse may not remain undisturbed. The somber appearance of a silent woman at the forest road further deepens Alice’s waking nightmare, caught between an internal evil and a lurking external terror.
Written and directed by Stephen Cognetti, the mind behind the Hell House franchise, A Body In The Woods is described as a “nightmarish folklore tale.” Production is slated to begin in September, with Caplan providing financing through C2 Motion Picture Group.
Manifest Pictures, founded by former Miramax and WME Independent executives Yvette Zhuang and Zach Glueck, has garnered backing from QC Entertainment and Gramercy Park Media. Commenting on the collaboration, Caplan stated, “Stephen has consistently proven he can create terrifying, elevated immersive horror experiences. With Emma in the lead, A Body In The Woods is an undeniable package.”
Cognetti echoed this sentiment, praising Roberts for her artistic depth: “Emma brings an intelligence and emotional fearlessness that elevates everything she touches. She understands horror on a cellular level—how to balance vulnerability, strength, and terror. My goal with A Body In The Woods is to deliver an elevated horror film that tests the limits of fear—not just for our lead character, but for the audience sitting in the dark with her.”
Roberts, whose past credits include Holidate, Scream Queens, and the box office hit We’re the Millers, also serves as a co-producer on the Hulu series Tell Me Lies. She is represented by Sweeney Entertainment, while Cognetti is repped by Anonymous Content.
