On Tuesday, EW exclusively revealed that Paramount has found their lead in CAPTAIN FANTASTIC child actor Charlie Shotwell for the forthcoming psychological thriller ELI. Helmed by SINISTER 2 director Ciaran Foy, ELI will tell the story of a secluded clinic where a boy with a rare disease is being treated. Soon, the clinic becomes a haunted prison with no way out.
The script for the film was originally written by David Chirchirillo in 2015 for Black List, but was then revised by Ian Goldberg and Richard Naing. Producing the film via his Intrepid Pictures studio will be Trevor Macy in a partnership with Bellevue Productions' John Zaozirny. ELI will be featured as the first film to be launched courtesy of the newly-minted Paramount Players label.
Is anyone else getting THE ORPHANAGE vibes from the above written plotline? Personally, I think the world could use some more big studio horror films, and the idea that Paramount Partners chose ELI to lead the pack has me hopeful that, if the film strikes a chord with audiences, we'll be seeing more frightful flicks from the new lable.
A date for ELI has yet to be announced, though you can check out Shotwell as Nai in Matt Ross' CAPTAIN FANTASTIC, which is available via Digital, DVD, and Blu-Ray services right now.
