Chase Infiniti has picked her first film role since breaking out in the best picture winner One Battle After Another, signing on to star in the horror feature Portrait of God at Lionsgate. The project will be directed by rising filmmaker Dylan Clark, who co-wrote the script with Joe Russo. No plot details have been released, though sources describe the film as a new twist on religious horror.
Portrait of God was previously set up at Universal before the studio let it go earlier this year, clearing the way for Lionsgate to step in and greenlight it. The producing team includes Sam Raimi for Ghost House Pictures and Jordan Peele for Monkeypaw, marking the first time the two horror producers have worked together. Rob Tapert (Ghost House) and Win Rosenfeld (Monkeypaw) are also producing alongside Russo. Romel Adam and Jose Cañas are overseeing the project for Ghost House, while Chris Rosati is executive producing for Monkeypaw through his first-look deal at NAT20 Films.
Infiniti's breakout came with Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another, her feature debut, which went on to win six Oscars. Her next project, The Julia Set, which was shot before One Battle made her a known name, recently premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and is still seeking a buyer.
Clark built his profile by posting high-horror short films to YouTube that drew millions of views, which brought him to Hollywood's attention. Ahead of Portrait of God, he is set to make his feature directorial debut with the reboot of The Blair Witch Project for Lionsgate and Blumhouse Atomic Monster. His deal arrives amid what the source describes as an active push to sign young horror talent, pointing to Curry Barker's Obsession and Kane Parson's Backrooms as breakout hits of the summer.
Lionsgate film boss Adam Fogelson praised the pairing: "We're delighted to deepen our creative partnership with Dylan Clark, whose remarkable talent and distinctive perspective make him one of the most exciting emerging voices in horror. With Sam and Jordan, two of the genre's most influential producers, the extraordinary Chase Infiniti starring, and Dylan at the helm, this is an exceptional creative team. We believe they have all the ingredients for a film that is haunting, thought-provoking, and scary as hell."
Clark added: "With Blair Witch, I'm experiencing firsthand the trust Lionsgate places in its filmmakers, and I couldn't be happier that Portrait of God has found a home there as well. I'm also thrilled to welcome Chase Infiniti to our team. She blew me away in One Battle After Another and is one of the most exciting young actors working today."
Scott O'Brien will oversee the project for the studio. Dan Freedman negotiated the deal on Lionsgate's behalf, while Brandon Hill brought the project to the studio. Clark is represented by UTA, 3 Arts, and Ginsburg Daniels Kallis. Infiniti is represented by Gersh, Brillstein Entertainment Partners, and the Lede Company.
Photo: Elyot Boudart, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
