It’ll be hunting season for Mel Gibson soon after signing on to star in David Henrie’s Boys of Summer film. Written by Cornelius Uliano and Bryan Schultz, Boys of Summer is being produced by Mark Fasano of Nickel City Pictures and James Henrie of Novo Media Group. John Blandford and Dan McDonough will finance and executive produce through Pastime Pictures with Tobias Weymar and Annie Mahoney of Nickel City Pictures, and Lorenzo Henrie and Amanda Devine of Novo Media Group also executive producing. Mason Thomas (The Black Phone) will also star opposite Gibson.
Henrie’s Boys of Summer film is being described as a fantasy adventure that follows a local boy, who after his best friend is mysteriously taken, begins to suspect that a supernatural entity may be hunting the children of Martha’s Vineyard. After seeking the help of an aging detective (Gibson), they soon discover they’re on the path of a witch who has recently retired to their island.
“Historically, fairy tales used monsters to personify our deepest fears while empowering young people to overcome them. Now more than ever, we need narratives that inspire courage in the face of darkness. Boys of Summer is a throwback story that conjures up the magic and nostalgia of childhood as its heroes fight monsters old and new,” said Henrie.
Hot damn! This movie sounds like it’s right up my alley. Although, the plot reminds me a bit of James Tynion IV’s Something is Killing the Children, which is being adapted by Mike Flanagan for a new Netflix series. While Something is Killing the Children doesn’t have anything to do with witches, it does feature menacing creatures killing and devouring children in an otherwise quiet town. It also focuses on a group of hunters sent from the House of Slaughter to destroy the supernatural beasts. You can see how I might draw some comparisons, right? Either way, Boys of Summer strikes me as a cool concept that puts fantasy horror front and center, and we could always use some more of that.
We’ll be sure to bring you more details about this project as it develops.
