Kyle Gallner Joins Brie Larson in Creature Horror Movie Skeletons
Kyle Gallner continues to cement his place as one of modern horror’s most reliable leading men, with news breaking that he has joined Brie Larson in the upcoming creature feature Skeletons.
According to Deadline, Gallner will reunite with Strange Darling filmmaker JT Mollner for the new project, which is being described as a modern take on the creature horror genre.
The film marks another major step forward for Mollner following the critical success of Strange Darling, the serial killer thriller that became one of the most talked-about genre releases of 2024 thanks to its unconventional storytelling and standout performances.
Skeletons centres on a young boy who gradually discovers that his seemingly loving parents are concealing a terrifying secret connected to his mother’s true nature. While plot details remain largely under wraps, the premise suggests a blend of family drama, mystery and creature horror.
Mollner will direct from a screenplay by Brian Duffield, whose genre credentials continue to grow stronger with each project. Duffield previously wrote the hugely entertaining monster adventure Love and Monsters and the acclaimed science fiction thriller No One Will Save You. The screenplay is based on Philip Fracassi’s short story Fail-Safe.
For horror fans, the casting of Kyle Gallner is reason enough to pay attention.
Over the last decade, Gallner has quietly become one of the genre’s most recognisable faces. He first attracted attention from horror audiences with roles in The Haunting in Connecticut, Jennifer’s Body*, and the 2010 remake of A Nightmare on Elm Street. More recently he delivered memorable performances in Smile, where he played troubled survivor Joel, before returning to the role in Smile 2.
Gallner also appeared in Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett’s Scream (2022), playing Vince Schneider, a relative of original Ghostface killer Stu Macher. His horror résumé further includes acclaimed indie efforts such as The Passenger, Mother, May I?, Dinner in America, and Strange Darling, helping establish him as one of the most dependable performers working in genre cinema today.
Joining him is Academy Award winner Brie Larson. While many audiences know Larson from her Oscar-winning performance in Room and her role as Carol Danvers in Marvel’s Captain Marvel films, she is no stranger to genre projects. Larson previously starred in Kong: Skull Island, one of the most successful entries in the MonsterVerse franchise, and has frequently balanced blockbuster productions with smaller character driven projects throughout her career.
The project also arrives with some heavyweight backing behind the scenes. Skeletons is being produced by J.J. Abrams through Bad Robot alongside Drew Simon, Jon Cohen and Jack Heller. Abrams remains one of Hollywood’s most influential producers, with credits spanning Lost, Star Trek, Super 8, Mission: Impossible and the recent Presumed Innocent television series.
Sony Pictures clearly sees major potential in the project. Earlier this year the studio acquired worldwide distribution rights to Skeletons following the European Film Market, reportedly securing the package in a deal worth approximately $25 million.
The combination of JT Mollner’s rising reputation, Brian Duffield’s genre pedigree, J.J. Abrams’ involvement, and a cast led by Brie Larson and Kyle Gallner makes Skeletons one of the more intriguing horror projects currently in development.
Gallner’s popularity within the horror community continues to grow with each new role, and Skeletons looks set to further strengthen his status as one of the genre’s modern favourites.
Before then, audiences will next see Gallner opposite Samara Weaving in the romantic thriller Carolina Caroline, while additional upcoming genre projects include Man Vs., which he also wrote, and Inground.
