The critically acclaimed French-Belgian thriller, ‘Vincent Must Die’, is being remade by AR Content, Vertigo, and Blumhouse Atomic Monster. David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, known for his screenwriting on films such as ‘Aquaman’ and ‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’, will write and direct the adaptation, marking his directorial debut.
The original film, directed by Stéphan Castang, garnered significant recognition after its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival’s Directors’ Fortnight sidebar in 2023. It received nominations for the Caméra d’Or at Cannes, best first film at the César Awards, and best actor (Karim Leklou) and best first film at the Lumière Awards, Variety reported.
Behind the Remake
Alexander Rodnyansky of AR Content, Roy Lee of Vertigo Entertainment, and Michael Clear of Blumhouse Atomic Monster will produce the remake. Michael Kupisk of AR Content will also produce, with Stuart Manashil and Goodfellas serving as executive producers. The film was optioned by AR Content from Goodfellas.
Speaking about the opportunity, Johnson-McGoldrick expressed his gratitude, stating, "I immediately fell in love with the film, and so having a chance to step into this crazy world they created is a dream come true." His collaborators at AR Content, Vertigo, and Atomic Monster are said to have trusted his vision, according to Yahoo. Alexander Rodnyansky from AR Content added that he had "complete faith in [Johnson-McGoldrick’s] vision for this adaptation."
The Original Story
The original ‘Vincent Must Die’ centres on Vincent, an ordinary man who suddenly becomes the target of physical attacks from anyone who makes eye contact with him. This forces him to confront a terrifying new reality as he attempts to survive. The film was written by Mathieu Naert, Dominique Baumard, and Stéphan Castang, and stars Karim Leklou, Vimala Pons, and François Chattot.
Variety described Castang’s genre-bending thriller as "a witty, grimy, timely parable for our paranoid and persecuted era," highlighting its critical acclaim and widespread recognition following its debut on the Croisette.
