DOCTOR CALIGARI'S CABINET OF WONDERS: Michael Shannon to Take Lead in Contemporary Take on The Classic, First-Ever Horror Feature Film
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Michael Shannon is set to star in a new horror film, Doctor Caligari’s Cabinet of Wonders, a contemporary take on the original German film, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, by Rober Weine from 1920. The original is considered to be the first ever feature length horror film.
The new film will be directed by John Erick Dowdle from his own screenplay. He will co-direct with his brother Drew Dowdle. The Dowdle Brothers have worked with the actor before, on the mini-series Waco, in which Shannon co-starred.
Anton, a company we talked about the other day, is fully financing the film and they currently hold the worldwide rights. They will be going to Berlinale/EFM to off-load some of those rights in pre-sales to get back some of those production costs.
Production is expected to begin this Summer, in June.
MICHAEL SHANNON TO STAR IN ANTON’S HORROR“DOCTOR CALIGARI’S CABINET OF WONDERS”Anton launching the film at EFMMichael Shannon (Man of Steel, Nuremberg, Nocturnal Animals) is set to star in the terrifying new horror Doctor Caligari’s Cabinet of Wonders, as the enigmatic Doctor Caligari, it was announced today. The film will be directed by John Erick Dowdle (No Escape, As Above So Below, Quarantine, Devil) from his own screenplay, alongside his brother and producing partner Drew Dowdle. This film continues the collaboration between Shannon and the Dowdle Brothers, who co-created the Emmy-Nominated mini-series “Waco“, in which Shannon co-starred.Anton is fully financing the film as well as handling worldwide rights at the upcoming European Film Market in Berlin. CAA Media Finance will co-rep North American rights with Anton.Sébastien Raybaud (Victorian Psycho, Greenland 2, The Night House) and Brandt Wrightsman (Greenland 2) will produce for Anton, alongside Drew Dowdle for Brothers Dowdle Productions, and Stuart Manashil (His House, Pieces of a Woman, Malcom & Marie). Principal photography will commence June 2026.Doctor Caligari’s Cabinet of Wonders is a contemporary take on the iconic classic, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, widely considered to be the first true horror movie. It’s a terrifying and mind-bending psychological horror starring Shannon as the titular villain, Doctor Caligari, a traveling mesmerist who journeys from town to town with a sleepwalker under his control, leaving a trail of grisly murders in their wake. When a young woman’s boyfriend disappears mysteriously, she believes that the enigmatic Doctor Caligari is somehow responsible. The problem is—nobody believes her.Writer/Director John Erick Dowdle commented, “Having worked with Michael Shannon on multiple projects, my brother and I have seen firsthand the unnerving intensity he can bring to even the simplest moments. The idea of seeing him play the horrifying Doctor Caligari became an obsession for us. The trust and creative shorthand we’ve built together will allow us to push deeper and bolder as we reimagine this iconic German Expressionist classic for a modern audience. I couldn’t be more excited to bring this nightmare to life with him.”
[photo credit: Juankr]
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