Emilia Clarke, best known as Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones, is stepping into full‑scale horror. Her new film When Darkness Loves Us has been acquired by Bleecker Street, with a theatrical release planned for 2027. The project adapts Elizabeth Engstrom’s cult 1980s novella, bringing its unsettling subterranean tale to the big screen.
Quick read
- Emilia Clarke stars in When Darkness Loves Us.
- Adapted from Elizabeth Engstrom’s 1985 horror novel.
- Directed by Adam Randall (I See You).
Plot and adaptation details
The film follows Clarke as a young woman who survives 15 years trapped in an underground cave system. Emerging back into the world, she sets out to reclaim the family she believes is hers — “no matter the monstrous cost.” The adaptation preserves Engstrom’s blend of tragedy and horror, exploring themes of isolation, obsession, and humanity’s darker impulses. Director James Ashcroft described the project as a journey into literal and figurative darkness, emphasizing the subterranean world‑building that anchors the film’s atmosphere.
Credits: Code 39 Films
Production and cast
When Darkness Loves Us was written and directed by James Ashcroft, with co‑writing credits to Hayley Sproull and Eli Kent. The film wrapped production in New Zealand, where its claustrophobic underground settings were realized. Clarke leads the cast alongside Marlon Williams (Sweet Tooth), Victoria Pedretti (You), and Natascha McElhone (The Truman Show). Ashcroft, whose previous credits include The Rule of Jenny Pen and Netflix’s upcoming The Whisper Man, praised Engstrom’s source material for its balance of monstrous acts and indelible humanity.
Bleecker Street’s deal covers all global territories except New Zealand and Australia, negotiated by Miranda King and Avy Eschenasy for Bleecker Street and CAA Media Finance on behalf of the filmmakers. The distributor’s slate includes Spinal Tap II: The End Continues and Adam Shankman’s Stop! That! Train! — positioning Clarke’s horror debut alongside eclectic, high‑profile releases.
Add WoT as a preferred source on Google.
Credits: Paramount Pictures
Release details
The film is slated for a 2027 theatrical release, with festival premieres expected earlier in the year. Bleecker Street CEO Kent Sanderson teased that audiences should prepare for a “true journey into the darkness,” underscoring the film’s ambition to shock and unsettle. With Clarke at the center, When Darkness Loves Us promises to deliver a chilling blend of psychological horror and gothic spectacle.
