3 weeks ago
EXCLUSIVE: Fearfolks, nan Bangkok-based genre explanation founded by Hans Audric B. Estialbo and Benetone Films, has picked up world income authorities to assemblage scary Cocoa Doll, starring Gossip Girl’s Grace Duah.
The task is nan debut characteristic of Muslim-Nigerian head Jumai Yusuf, based connected a screenplay that was antecedently recognized successful nan Muslim List – presented by nan Black List, MPAC Hollywood and Pillars Fund – and nan WScripted Cannes Screenplay List, presented by Mubi.
The communicative revolves astir a Black Muslim woman, played by Duah, who is hired by nan able McNeil family, but soon discovers that they has been turning erstwhile labor successful to surviving dolls. She must shape her flight earlier she becomes a portion of nan family’s collection.
The movie is produced by The Dazey Phase’s Jake Casey (Heightened Scrutiny), Unger Media’s Jonathan Unger (Mysterious Ways) and Alta Global Media’s Steven Adams, who antecedently worked pinch Paris-based VFX location BUF (Life of Pi).
LA-based Zoic Studios is besides connected committee nan movie arsenic VFX supervisor. Production is scheduled to commencement successful nan 4th fourth of 2026.
“At Fearfolks, we are willing successful films that push communicative boundaries and Cocoa Doll is simply a awesome illustration of really individual stories tin construe to films that speak to a wider audience,” said Fearfolks CEO Estialbo.
Yusuf added: “While nan movie features nan literal translator of group into dolls, it’s besides a powerful metaphor for nan objectification of achromatic women and nan ways nine feels entitled to their bodies, their minds, and their lived experiences.
“At its core, Cocoa Doll is an inherently feminine scary communicative that explores monstrous femininity, from nan grotesque process of creating these dolls to nan utmost lengths women will spell to successful nan pursuit of beauty, perfection, and control.”
Unger added: “Cocoa Doll shines a ray connected nan acheronian underbelly of immoderate of our astir celebrated popular civilization touchstones and gives sound to nan Muslim community, done a powerful female lead.”
Jumai’s erstwhile useful see Oscar-qualified short movie Nate & John, which premiered astatine Tribeca Film Festival; was nominated for nan 56th NAACP Image Awards, and won nan Gold House Cultural Impact Award astatine nan American Pavilion Emerging Filmmaker Showcase during nan 2024 Cannes Film Festival.
Fearfolks, which is part-owned by Thailand’s Benetone Films, is besides processing a slate of Thai scary and different genre films, arsenic good arsenic handling Thai distribution connected titles from A24, Neon and The Horror Section successful Thailand. Working pinch Benetone, nan institution is presently producing Thai scary movie Cher, scripted by Patrick Graham (Ghoul, Betaal) and starring Pae Arak and Sukollawat Kanarot.
