Horror Highlights: CLOWN IN A CORNFIELD, GRAVE CONVERSATIONS, HEAVY METAL

RLJE Films and Shudder Acquire Eli Craig’s CLOWN IN A CORNFIELD – In Theaters May 9, 2025: “RLJE Films and Shudder, AMC Networks’ premium streaming service for horror, thriller and the supernatural, announced today that they have snagged the U.S. rights to Eli Craig’s (TUCKER & DAVE VS. EVIL, LITTLE EVIL) CLOWN IN A CORNFIELD, based on the Bram Stoker Award-winning horror novel by Adam Cesare. From Temple Hill Entertainment, the production team behind smash hit SMILE, the film stars Katie Douglas (GINNY & GEORGIA), Carson MacCormac (SHAZAM!), Aaron Abrams (HANNIBAL), Will Sasso (THE THREE STOOGES), and Kevin Durand (ABIGAIL). RLJE Films will release the film wide theatrically on May 9, 2025.

Adapted to a screenplay by Carter Blanchard and Craig, CLOWN IN A CORNFIELD follows Quinn (Douglas) and her father (Abrams), who have just moved to the quiet town of Kettle Springs hoping for a fresh start. Instead, she discovers a fractured community that has fallen on hard times after the treasured Baypen Corn Syrup Factory burned down. As the locals bicker amongst themselves and tensions boil over, a sinister, grinning figure emerges from the cornfields to cleanse the town of its burdens, one bloody victim at a time. Welcome to Kettle Springs. The real fun starts when Frendo the clown comes out to play.

“Adam Cesare’s ‘Clown’ series has been on my radar for some time now, and we are pumped to bring Eli Craig’s harrowing, savage, heart-pounding adaptation to the big screen in 2025,” said RLJE Films’ Chief Acquisition Officer Mark Ward.

Said Director Eli Craig, “I’m thrilled to partner with RLJE Films and Shudder to release this insanely fun action, horror, comedy where we always wanted it to be seen — in theaters! As always in my movies, there’s a deeper theme about the collision of perspectives and ideals that leads to utter mayhem. It was fun in this one, however, to let the horror thrills take the lead, while the comedic absurdity that I can’t help but see in life brings a bit of levity.”

HarperCollins published Cesare’s novel ‘Clown in Cornfield’ in 2020, followed by the second book in the franchise, ‘Clown in a Cornfield II: Frendo Lives’ in 2022. ‘Clown in a Cornfield III: The Church of Frendo,’ had its debut in August 2024 and has since become a USA Today Bestseller.

CLOWN IN A CORNFIELD is produced by Marty Bowen, Wyck Godfrey, Isaac Klausner, and John Fischer for Temple Hill and Paris Kassidokostas-Latsis and Terry Dougas for Rhea Films, and executive produced by Jean-Luc De Fanti, Max Work and Kostas Tsoukalas for Rhea Films, Petersen Harris and George Berman for Temple Hill, Dave Bishop and George Hamilton for Protagonist Pictures, Daniel Bekerman for Scythia Films Inc., Myron John Tataryn for Thundersnow Pictures, and Carter Blanchard. The film is a Rhea Films Production as well as a Temple Hill Production and was financed by Hercules Film Fund.

The deal was negotiated by Mark Ward on behalf of RLJE Films and Shudder and Hal Sadoff and Lina Marrone on behalf of the filmmakers. International rights are being handled by Protagonist Pictures.”

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David Dastmalchian’s Talk Show “Grave Conversations” Expands for Season 2: “Produced by Good Fiend Films, TheYearOfElan Productions, and Titan Casket (just named a Marketer of the Year by Ad Age), the series returns for Season 2 with an expanded 10-episode format, diving deeper into themes of mortality, legacy, and the afterlife—all within its distinctive casket setting.

Season 2 brings a fresh guest lineup, featuring Kumail Nanjiani (“Eternals,” “The Big Sick”), Jack Quaid (“The Boys,” “Scream”), and Lauren LaVera (“Terrifier,” “The Life of Chuck”), leading the upcoming season. Following a standout first season, which garnered over 10 million views across Instagram and X and featured guests such as Mike Flanagan (‘The Fall of the House of Usher’), Kate Siegel (‘The Haunting of Hill House’), and Matthew Lillard (‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’), the series is now moving to YouTube to reach an even broader audience.

Discussions about death and dying are often avoided, yet they play a crucial role in reshaping how we perceive mortality. By embracing these themes, Season 2 further explores the connection between acknowledging death and celebrating life. The series remains dedicated to delivering powerful and thought-provoking conversations that challenge societal norms around mortality.

With its move to YouTube, “Grave Conversations” is set to engage an even broader audience, building on the reflective and impactful dialogue that defined its first season. Further details on the release schedule and extended lineup for season two will be revealed in early 2025.”

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HEAVY METAL UNVEILS FIRST WAVE OF CREATORS TO USHER IN THE MAGAZINE’S RETURN TO GREATNESS: “Having set tongues wagging with news of their impending return under the guidance of a fresh editorial team – Frank Forte, Dave Kelly, and Chris Thompson – who want to see the magazine return to its former glory, Heavy Metal are proud to unleash the first wave of creator announcements as part of their Kickstarter campaign launch today. Showcasing an intoxicating blend of new talent and classic favorites, the line-up is ensured to make Heavy Metal heavy again!

One of the magazine’s original line-up of legends, Enki Bilal – who first graced the title in 1978 with Exterminator 17 – returns with the English language adaptation of his acclaimed BUG series. He’s joined on the European front by previously unseen instalments of the outrageous Burton & Cyb by Antonio Segura and Jose Ortiz, as well as Vicente Segrelles’ lost classic, The Mercenary. And, in the spirit of introducing American audiences to the freshest European talent, the team are pleased to present the English language debut of Janevsky’s cult sci-fi heroine, Sixella.

Fans of the 1981 animated film need not despair as Heavy Metal will harness the power of its own rich stable of characters, starting with the ultimate Taarakian warrior, Taarna! Her new adventures will pay homage to that early cinematic appearance while developing a rich new canon for modern sci-fi audiences. Writing duo Leah Moore and John Reppion will pen Taarna’s ongoing adventures, accompanied by stunning art from rising star Anna Morozova, who brings some exciting new techniques and influences to the table. The magazine will also feature special one-shots of Cold Dead War by Craig Wilson, Grimaldi by Keron Grant, and Legends of Taarna by Joseph Michael Linsner.

Bridging the gap between European and American audiences is DC Comics superstar, Fernando Dagnino, who brings a new series of cyberpunk shorts to the magazine – starting with Lester, That Old Feeling. Dagnino’s sci-fi splendor has most recently been seen within the pages of Blade Runner for Titan Comics, and these new stories represent a major leap forward in his futuristic storytelling abilities. Alongside these European classics and recognizable Heavy Metal characters, issue #1 will feature the return of classic strips such as The Bus by Paul Kirchner and June 2050 by John Workman.

The magazine will also debut a number of new characters and worlds within its quarterly pages, starting with a top-secret new saga from acclaimed writer Michael Conrad that will develop over the course of the magazine’s run. There’s also a brand new series, Transcendestiny, from visionary creators David Quinn and Tim Vigil that is guaranteed to rock readers’ worlds. Those are just some of the new projects and big names set to join the legendary publication with issue #1, so keep your eyes peeled for future announcements and updates throughout the campaign.

That almost covers everything – except, of course, for the covers – which feature an array of comics and illustration talent that represent the breadth of style and influence that the magazine is known for. Joining the sorely-missed Greg Hildebrandt’s gorgeous cover for issue #1, there are a host of new covers and variant editions – many of which are exclusive to the Kickstarter campaign – from creators including Frank Frazetta, Dan Brereton, Luca Strati, Skinner, Brian Viveros, Dan Quintana, Nychos, and more.

The Kickstarter campaign launches on Monday, November 25 and runs through until Christmas. Backing the magazine is the perfect holiday gift for yourself and those you love, and it comes with an array of tiers and rewards to suit all tastes and budgets. Further details about the campaign and the future of Heavy Metal will be revealed over the next month, so don’t miss out and join the Kickstarter campaign today!”

To support Heavy Metal on Kickstarter, visit: www.kickstarter.com/projects/heavymetal/heavy-metal-magazine-1