Nick Jonas and Kathryn Newton Star in Holiday Horror Film ‘White Elephant’ Directed by Eli Craig
Nick Jonas and Kathryn Newton to Star in MRC’s Holiday Horror Film ‘White Elephant’
Nick Jonas and Kathryn Newton are set to headline White Elephant, a holiday horror film produced by MRC. This marks the first project under a new partnership with Radio Silence and Project X, known as RSPX, which focuses on innovative horror and thriller productions.
Newton reunites with Radio Silence and Project X following her role alongside Samara Weaving in Ready or Not 2: Here I Come. The film is a sequel to the original Ready or Not, which premiered at SXSW on May 13 before its theatrical release the subsequent week.
Directed by Eli Craig, known for Clown in a Cornfield, White Elephant presents a chilling scenario: eight friends enter a festive gift exchange that devolves into a competition marked by betrayal and chaos.
MRC is financing the film, with production currently underway. Notable producers include Spencer Berman and Nick Jonas from Powered By Jonas, along with William Sherak, Paul Neinstein, and James Vanderbilt from Project X. Executive producers include Billings, Ryan McDonough, Amanda Drake, Newton, Scott Levine, and Chad Villella.
In recent news, Jonas received acclaim for his role in Power Ballad, a musical dramedy directed by John Carney, which premiered at SXSW. The film is set for release through Lionsgate on June 5. Jonas’s recent credits also include You’re Cordially Invited and The Good Half. Later this year, he will appear alongside Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, and Kevin Hart in a new installment of the Jumanji franchise.
Newton’s recent filmography features Ready or Not 2, Abigail, Lisa Frankenstein, and Griffin in Summer. At SXSW, she was also seen in DreamQuil, a thriller from director Alex Prager. Upcoming projects include a biopic about Jean-Michel Basquiat called Samo Lives and Amazon MGM’s The Devil’s Mouth.
Eli Craig is celebrated for his unique approach to the horror genre, previously directing the cult classic Tucker & Dale vs. Evil. His recent project, Clown in a Cornfield, broke opening weekend records for IFC Films.
In addition to Ready or Not 2, Radio Silence’s Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett have revitalized the Scream franchise in collaboration with Project X. They are set to tackle a new installment of The Mummy franchise as well.
With Scream 7 achieving record earnings and grossing over $204 million, Project X has made a name for itself with titles like Nuremberg, Fountain of Youth, Abigail, and the Netflix series The Night Agent.
MRC has recently released Wuthering Heights, G20, and All of You, with future projects including The Only Living Pickpocket in New York, The Gallerist, A Place in Hell, The Best is Yet To Come, Unabomber, and Eloise.
Billings, co-writer and executive producer of White Elephant, is represented by Paradigm, Silver Mass Entertainment, and Lichter, Grossman, Nichols.
