JT Mollner’s “Skeletons,” which just wrapped production, stars Brie Larson in the lead role, with the rest of the ensemble including John Goodman(!), Kyle Gallner(!), Willa Fitzgerald, Ione Skye, and Daithí Ó hAragáin.
Mollner’s latest has now been dated for a wide theatrical rollout on June 4, 2027, via Sony Pictures. That’s a prime summer release slot, signaling a great deal of confidence from the studio.
More talent: Brian Duffield (”Whalefall”)—who seems to be everywhere these days—wrote the original draft, with slight revisions by Mollner. They’ll likely both receive screenplay credit.
Mollner has been on the rise following the breakout success of “Strange Darling,” a 2024 psychological thriller that scored 96% on Rotten Tomatoes and won several genre awards. Larson hasn’t appeared on the big screen since “The Marvels,” which was released in 2023—she probably needed a break.
“Skeletons” is a modern take on the creature horror film, told from the perspective of a young boy who slowly begins to discover that his beloved parents are hiding a disturbing secret about his mother’s true nature. J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot is producing.
Mollner’s profile soared after “Strange Darling,” to the point that a bidding war erupted over “Skeletons” this past May, with Sony ultimately acquiring it for the whopping sum of $25 million.
“Strange Darling”was a pulpy, blood-soaked thriller told out of order, following a violent cat-and-mouse game between a woman and a man on the run through the Pacific Northwest. Shot on 35mm and leaning heavily into grindhouse vibes, it played like a love letter to ’70s exploitation cinema. Even more impressive: it was made on a shoestring budget of $3M.
The budget on “Skeletons” is believed to fall within the typical mid-budget horror/thriller range, potentially landing around $25M to $30M. Either way, it represents a far larger canvas than Mollner ever imagined he’d have.