The first huge project under newly arrived MGM Film Group, Chairman Michael De Luca, David Slade’s feature adaptation of acclaimed horror novel Dark Harvest is landing at the studio. Matt Tolmach and David Manpearl are producers through Matt Tolmach Productions. That label is hot off the success of the last two Jumanji movies and Venom, which combined have grossed over $billions. Michael Gilio is writing Dark Harvest, and will also serve as Executive Producer.

Deadline previously broke the news about Slade’s attachment to the Tor Books novel, by Norman Partridge. The project was originally set up at New Regency, which put the project in turnaround.

Tor Books:

Dark Harvest is a start right in De Luca’s wheelhouse, the executive had been behind such horror successes as The Nightmare on Elm Street franchise, and Seven at New Line. 

De Luca wrote and produced the movie Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare, as well as the TV series, Freddy’s Nightmares.

Dark Harvest is set on Halloween and centers around the October Boy, aka Ol’ Hacksaw Face, aka Sawtooth Jack. Whatever the name, everybody in this small Midwestern town, knows who he is. He rises from the cornfields every Halloween, a butcher knife in his hand, and makes his way toward town, where gangs of teenage boys anxiously anticipate their chance to confront the legendary nightmare. 

Both the hunter and the hunted, the October Boy is the prize in an annual rite of life and death. Pete McCormick knows that killing the October Boy is his one chance to escape a dead-end future, in this one-horse town. He’s willing to risk everything, including his life, to be a winner for once. 

But before the night is over, Pete will look into the saw-toothed face of horror–and discover the terrifying true secret, of the October Boy.

Slade most recently directed and executive produced, the pilot for Barkskins, for National Geographic, and Scott Rudin. He additionally directed the Emmy nominated Black Mirror episode of Bandersnatch.

Dark Harvest is the winner of the Bram Stoker Award and was named one of the “ Best Novels” of Weekly. 

Partridge is a two-time Stoker Award-winner, and throughout his career, has published three short story collections, several comics, and five novels. 

Gilio wrote the Jessica Chastain drama Jolene and Dungeons, and Dragons at Paramount Hasbro.