Hereditary’s Alex Wolff to Direct Dark Psychological Thriller With Asa Butterfield, Justice Smith

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Hereditary’s Alex Wolff to Direct Dark Psychological Thriller With Asa Butterfield, Justice Smith

Hereditary’s Alex Wolff is writing, directing, and starring in a new psychological thriller, If She Burns.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Wolff is writing and directing a “dark and sexy” psychological thriller, If She Burns. Wolff is also starring in the film alongside Victoria Pedretti (The Haunting of Bly Manor, You), Asa Butterfield (Sex Education, Choose or Die), and Justice Smith (Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, Jurassic World Dominion).

All four actors were attached to the film prior to the start of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) strike in July 2023.

What is If She Burns about?

The movie follows a young woman (Pedretti) who travels to Europe with her family following a “traumatic incident.” There, she begins to bond with her mysterious neighbor, played by Wolff, while she’s also pushed to her breaking point by family squabbles and problematic wildfires.

Mister Smith Entertainment is launching international sales on If She Burns at the American Film Market, held from October 31 through November 5, 2023.

If She Burns marks Wolff’s second time directing a feature film following 2019’s The Cat and the Moon. Along with 2018’s Hereditary, he’s also known for starring in the Jumanji franchise, 2021’s Pig, 2021’s Old, and 2023’s Oppenheimer.

“I’m exhilarated to embark on a journey with such remarkable, brave actors like Victoria, Asa, and Justice. What we put on screen will be daring, ferocious, tender, and honest. I’m honored to be able to share it,” Wolff said.

Wolff is also producing the movie with Jay Van Hoy and Andra Gordon. Van Hoy and Gordon said in a statement, “We’re excited to partner with Mister Smith and help bring Alex’s powerful vision to life with this wonderful cast. His evocative portrayal of a young woman contending with mounting internal and external pressure ramps up to a thrilling, poignant climax in a seamlessly heightened world where reality and perception are blurred.”

If She Burns is scheduled to begin filming in Italy in 2024. An official release date for the movie has not yet been set.