Holiday horror fans have a new title to keep an eye on: MRC’s White Elephant, an upcoming holiday horror film that turns a festive gift exchange into a deadly survival game. The film stars Nick Jonas and Kathryn Newton (as we reported last week), and has just rounded out its ensemble cast with six new additions. The White Elephant cast now includes KJ Apa, Madeleine Arthur, Josh Brener, Ashley Park, Alexandra Shipp, and Justice Smith. The film is directed by Eli Craig (Tucker & Dale vs. Evil, Little Evil, and Clown in a Cornfield), with production already underway.
New Cast Additions
Joining Nick Jonas (Power Ballad) and Kathryn Newton (Ready or Not 2: Here I Come) are:
- Alexandra Shipp (Anyone but You)
- KJ Apa (Riverdale)
- Madeleine Arthur (Devil in Ohio)
- Josh Brener (Silicon Valley)
- Ashley Park (Emily in Paris)
- Justice Smith (I Saw the TV Glow)
Behind the Scenes
MRC is financing the project. Spencer Berman and Nick Jonas are producing White Elephant for Powered By Jonas, along with William Sherak, Paul Neinstein, and James Vanderbilt for Project X, plus Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin of Radio Silence. Executive producers include Newton, Billings, Ryan McDonough, Amanda Drake, Scott Levine, and Chad Villella.
What Is White Elephant?
Eli Craig directs White Elephant from a script by JT Billings, which he also revised.
Here’s the logline: Eight friends. One prize. Zero trust. Their annual festive holiday gift exchange spirals into a cutthroat game of Christmas carnage.
Why This Matters
The holiday horror subgenre has been gaining popularity in recent years, with films like Krampus and the new Silent Night, Deadly Night proving that festive settings can deliver horrific good times. White Elephant is set to tap into that same appeal, blending a familiar holiday tradition with a high-concept survival twist. With Eli Craig bringing his genre sensibilities behind the camera and a cast led by Kathryn Newton, who continues to build strong horror credentials, the film could be the next breakout seasonal horror hit.
A holiday horror movie that’s directed by Eli Craig and has Kathryn Newton in a lead role definitely sounds like it will be right up my alley, so I was sold on this one as soon as it was announced and look forward to seeing how White Elephant is going to turn out.
What do you think of Alexandra Shipp, KJ Apa, Madeleine Arthur, Josh Brener, Ashley Park, and Justice Smith joining the cast of White Elephant? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
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