Chris Pine and Sofia Boutella Join Michael Chaves Survival Horror Yeti
Director Michael Chaves is stepping away from the Conjuring Universe for his next project, and he is bringing a strong cast along with him. According to Deadline, Chris Pine and Sofia Boutella have signed on to star in Yeti, a survival thriller that marks Chaves’ first feature outside the supernatural franchise he has been associated with for several years. The film is now set up at Netflix after originally being developed at Sony and Picturestart.
Chaves first made his feature directing debut with the supernatural horror film The Curse of La Llorona in 2019. While not officially branded as part of The Conjuring Universe at the time, the film contained links to the franchise and effectively served as Chaves’ introduction to the series. He would go on to direct The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It in 2021, followed by The Nun II in 2023, both of which continued the hugely successful horror franchise created by James Wan. He is also set to direct The Conjuring: Last Rites, the upcoming instalment expected to conclude the main story involving paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. With Yeti, Chaves is now venturing into creature-feature territory for the first time in his career.
The film’s premise places the story deep within the remote and unforgiving environment of the Alps. When a devastating avalanche tears through the mountains, it uncovers something ancient buried beneath the ice. Stranded in the freezing wilderness with no chance of rescue, a father and his daughter must fight to survive against a relentless predator that blends seamlessly into the snowy landscape. The script was written by Peter Gaffney and Sean Tretta, and combines elements of survival thriller and monster horror in a high-stakes setting.
Chris Pine will take on the role of the father at the centre of the story. Pine is widely recognised for portraying Captain James T. Kirk in the modern Star Trek film series, but his career has included a wide range of genres. He recently appeared in the fantasy adventure Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves and has taken on more dramatic roles in films such as Hell or High Water and All the Old Knives. His ability to balance action and character-driven drama could make him a strong anchor for a story that places emotional stakes alongside physical survival.
Joining him is Sofia Boutella, who has steadily built a reputation in genre cinema over the past decade. She first gained attention as the deadly Gazelle in the action film Kingsman: The Secret Service and has since appeared in projects such as The Mummy, Atomic Blonde, and more recently Zack Snyder’s sci-fi epics Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire and Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver. Boutella’s experience with physically demanding roles suggests she could play a key part in the film’s intense survival sequences.
The cast also includes veteran British actor Ray Winstone, known for performances in films such as Sexy Beast, The Departed, and the fantasy adventure Damsel. Winstone has long been a commanding screen presence in both crime dramas and genre projects, and his involvement adds another experienced performer to the ensemble. Iona Bell, who is set to appear in the upcoming The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, will play Pine’s daughter in the story.
Behind the scenes, the project continues to evolve following changes in development. Yeti was originally set up at Sony under producer Jon Silk’s first-look deal with the studio. However, Silk has since moved to Netflix as a film executive, and the project has followed him to the streaming platform. Picturestart remains involved in the production, with Erik Feig and Jessica Switch producing alongside Dan Kagan. Pine and Hans Ritter will serve as executive producers.
Yeti Moving Forward
Creature features set in isolated environments have long been a staple of the horror genre, and the snow-covered Alps provide a natural setting for tension and survival horror. Films such as The Thing demonstrated how an extreme environment can heighten paranoia and danger, and Yeti appears to draw from that tradition by placing its characters in a hostile landscape where both nature and an unseen predator pose deadly threats.
For Michael Chaves, the project represents an opportunity to step beyond the supernatural hauntings that have defined much of his career so far. With a cast led by Chris Pine and Sofia Boutella and a premise rooted in survival horror, Yeti could mark a significant shift in tone and scale for the director as he tackles a more creature-driven thriller. As production moves forward at Netflix, the film has the potential to deliver a tense blend of icy isolation and monster movie suspense.
