LaKeith Stanfield has exited Paramount’s upcoming horror thriller amid a major shake-up behind the scenes. Director Rob Savage has also left the project due to scheduling conflicts.
According to Deadline, Stanfield has exited Paramount’s Molepeople. After Savage exits, filmmaker Ben Wheatley is now set to take over directing duties. The reason for Stanfield’s departure has not been disclosed. As per the source, this situation is amicable for everyone involved.
The film follows a man who ventures into abandoned tunnels beneath New York City and discovers a disturbing underground society. Nathan Elston wrote the screenplay. Raphael Margules, J.D. Lifshitz, Jason Blum, and James Harris are producing, while Ryan Turek and Tracy Rosenblum serve as executive producers.
Molepeople is scheduled for an August 27, 2027 release.
Rob Savage’s exit comes after the release of Other Mommy
Savage’s exit from Molepeople follows the theatrical release of Other Mommy, a supernatural horror film starring Jessica Chastain. Based on Josh Malerman’s novel of the same name, Other Mommy was directed by Savage from a screenplay by Elston.
Following its theatrical release, Other Mommy received largely negative reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the critics’ consensus states, “Despite a valiant turn from Jessica Chastain as the spectral embodiment of a smothering parent, Other Mommy proves too silly for its intermittently effective jump scares to add up to a spooky whole.”
At the time of writing, Other Mommy has a 19% Tomatometer score and a 48% Popcornmeter score on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite its negative critical reception, the film reportedly grossed $97.3 million worldwide against a $19 million production budget.
This film’s reception adds context to Savage’s latest career move as he steps away from helming another horror flick. Savage’s departure has been attributed to scheduling conflicts; there is no confirmed evidence linking it to Other Mommy’s critical reception.
Originally reported on ComingSoon.net.
