Princess Pictures Celebrates the Debut of ‘The Worm’ by Sundance Filmmakers Tom Noakes & Will Goodfellow
Filmmaking duo Tom Noakes and Will Goodfellow, known as Studio Goono, is set to embark on their feature debut following the premiere of their short film The Worm at Sundance 2026.
Princess Pictures has joined the project, titled The Answerers, a dark comedy feature currently in development with casting and financing underway. The announcement comes on the heels of The Worm‘s screening in the Sundance Midnight Shorts program.
The Answerers tells the story of a burnt-out telemarketer who discovers a derelict house containing a mysterious rotary phone that never rings. He becomes caught up in the obsessive vigilance of a group of strangers who believe that answering the phone when it finally rings will change their lives forever.
While The Answerers serves as a tonal companion to The Worm, it is described as an existential thriller infused with absurdist comedy. The film delves into themes of belief, delusion, and the human desire for meaning in an increasingly chaotic world.
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Christopher Casanova, head of content at Princess Pictures, expressed enthusiasm for the project, stating, “This is precisely the kind of bold, singular storytelling we’re drawn to at Princess. The Answerers is funny, unsettling and philosophically sharp. It challenges audiences while remaining wildly entertaining. Tom and Will have a clear and confident voice and we’re excited to bring their debut feature to the screen.”
Production for The Answerers will be led by Mike Cowap and Casanova for Princess Pictures, alongside Noakes and Goodfellow, with Adrian Pinto also producing. Executive producers include Laura Waters, Emma Fitzsimons, Katie Shortland, and Marian Macgowan.
Both The Worm and The Answerers received support from Screen NSW’s Short to Feature Fast Track Initiative.
