Jonathan Rhys Meyers to Hunt for a Mermaid in Upcoming Horror Film The Catch
Jonathan Rhys Meyers is diving into dark and dangerous waters for his next role. As reported by Deadline, the actor has signed on to star in The Catch, a horror thriller from Epic Pictures and Mermaid Films that begins production in March 2026. The film will also star Ben Miles, best known for Tetris and Hijack, with direction from Jo Southwell, who has previously worked on popular British shows such as Call the Midwife and Doctors. The Catch marks Southwell’s feature directorial debut and promises a haunting mix of myth and obsession.
The story follows a brilliant but dangerously obsessive chef who travels to Cornwall in search of the rarest seafood imaginable — a mermaid. What begins as a culinary adventure soon descends into madness as the chef’s ambition turns into fixation, and he learns that some legends are better left undiscovered. The project is produced by Sara Gibbings, whose previous work includes Welcome to Wrexham, with Epic Pictures introducing the film to buyers at the American Film Market.
Patrick Ewald, CEO of Epic Pictures and executive producer on the project, described The Catch as “a razor-sharp blend of myth and obsession, a story that reminds us that the real monsters are often human. With Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Ben Miles bringing fierce depth to their roles, and the visionary partnership of Jo Southwell and Sara Gibbings steering the project, this haunting film is destined to make waves.”
Jonathan Rhys Meyers has long been drawn to complex, intense roles. The Irish actor is best known for his award-winning portrayal of Elvis Presley in CBS’s Elvis miniseries and for his acclaimed turn as King Henry VIII in The Tudors. His filmography includes titles such as Mission: Impossible III, Match Point, and Bend It Like Beckham, while more recent years have seen him explore darker material in thrillers like Awake and Black Butterfly. Meyers brings both gravitas and intensity, qualities that should fit perfectly within The Catch’s eerie and psychological tone.
Ben Miles also brings a strong dramatic pedigree. He has starred in Apple TV+’s Hijack alongside Idris Elba, Tetris with Taron Egerton, and the acclaimed Andor series on Disney+. He has also appeared in Douglas Is Cancelled, Widow Clicquot, and Canary Black. His mix of charm and menace will no doubt serve the story’s tension between obsession and moral decay.
Horror and mermaid mythology are rarely combined, but when they are, the results can be unforgettable. Polish musical horror The Lure explored siren-like seduction with surreal flair, while Robert Eggers’ The Lighthouse offered a nightmarish twist on the sea’s mysteries. Even mainstream titles like Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides have hinted at the darker, more dangerous nature of mermaids. If The Catch delivers on its promise, it could become the next standout in this eerie subgenre — blending folklore, psychological tension, and a dash of culinary madness.
Epic Pictures has a solid track record of supporting bold, distinctive genre cinema, with credits including Terrifier 2, The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot, and Tales of Halloween. With The Catch, the company appears to be diving deep into atmospheric horror once again, and with a cast and concept like this, expectations are high.
With production set to begin in March, audiences won’t have to wait long to get their first glimpse at this ambitious, sea-soaked nightmare. Between its mythological premise, Cornwall’s coastal backdrop, and a leading performance from Jonathan Rhys Meyers, The Catch looks ready to lure horror fans into uncharted waters. Are you looking forward to seeing The Catch? Let us know in the comments below.
