Good Boy Director Ben Leonberg to Adapt Horror Novella Look Out
Following the success of Good Boy, director Ben Leonberg is preparing to take audiences somewhere considerably more remote. The filmmaker has signed on to direct Look Out, a new horror film based on Dan Baillie’s illustrated novella about a lonely fire lookout who discovers that his new job comes with some very unusual conditions.
According to Variety, Leonberg will also co-write the screenplay alongside Alex Cannon, his collaborator on Good Boy. Republic Pictures is backing the adaptation, which promises a combination of isolation, mysterious instructions and an unseen threat lurking somewhere beyond the safety of a forest lookout station.
The announcement adds another project to Leonberg’s increasingly busy schedule following his feature directorial debut, which introduced horror audiences to an unlikely four-legged hero.
Look Out Horror Novella: A Remote Tower and Terrifying Rules
Published on 7 May 2025, Look Out was written by Dan Baillie and features full-colour painted illustrations by Tim Bradstreet, whose previous comic-book work includes The Punisher and Hellblazer. The 48-page illustrated prose novella was the first release under the Future of Fear partnership between AWA and Vertigo Entertainment.
The story follows Oscar, a recently divorced man who accepts employment as a fire lookout at an isolated forest outpost. Hoping to recover from the breakdown of his marriage, he instead finds himself occupying a remote workplace surrounded by wilderness, with little indication of what awaits him after sunset.
While settling into his new surroundings, Oscar discovers a damaged sheet of paper containing a peculiar list of rules. The instructions supposedly explain how to remain safe during his watch, but Oscar initially dismisses them as an elaborate practical joke arranged by the other fire lookouts working in the area.
Unfortunately, the situation changes dramatically when darkness arrives. Oscar discovers that the warnings are genuine and that whatever the instructions are intended to protect him from represents a very real danger.
It’s an effective premise because the rules immediately introduce uncertainty. Oscar has no reason to trust the mysterious instructions, yet ignoring them could have consequences he cannot anticipate. The isolation of the lookout station also leaves him with limited opportunities to seek reassurance or assistance.
The published synopsis deliberately keeps the nature of the threat mysterious, and the filmmakers have yet to explain how closely the adaptation will follow the novella. For now, the precise rules and what happens when they are broken remain details best left for readers to discover.
Good Boy Director Ben Leonberg Returns to Contained Horror
Leonberg attracted considerable attention with Good Boy, which premiered at the South by Southwest Film Festival in 2025 before being acquired by IFC Films and Shudder.
The supernatural horror follows Indy, a dog attempting to protect his ailing owner from a sinister presence. What makes the film unusual is its decision to present the story from the animal’s perspective, with Leonberg’s own family dog taking the central role.
Rather than relying on lengthy explanations, Good Boy builds much of its suspense through the dog’s reactions to things its human companion cannot necessarily perceive. The approach demonstrated Leonberg’s ability to create tension through restricted viewpoints and limited information, qualities that could translate effectively to Look Out.
The filmmaker already has two additional horror projects underway. Follow Mode, an original found-footage serial-killer thriller involving teenagers who discover disturbing footage on a fallen drone, is currently in post-production.
He is also developing Ankle Snatcher for Sony Pictures, adapting a short story by horror author Grady Hendrix alongside Cannon.
Look Out Film Brings Together Vertigo and AWA
Roy Lee and Andrew Childs will produce Look Out for Vertigo Entertainment, with Zach Studin producing for AWA. The project continues the companies’ Future of Fear initiative, which was established to develop original horror stories with potential for screen adaptations.
Vertigo’s previous production credits include It, Barbarian and Late Night with the Devil, demonstrating considerable experience with both major horror properties and distinctive independent productions.
There is currently no announced cast, filming schedule or release date for Look Out. Further details about the adaptation’s story also remain under wraps.
For Leonberg, however, the project appears to offer another opportunity to experiment with perspective and suspense. After making audiences fear for a dog confronting the supernatural, he now has the chance to explore what happens when an isolated man discovers that following the rules might be his only hope of surviving the night.
