LaKeith Stanfield's 'Molepeople' Set for August 27, 2027 Release

LaKeith Stanfield's horror film "Molepeople" will hit theaters on Aug. 27, 2027. Stanfield announced the date himself during a special appearance at New York Comic-Con on Friday evening, previewing his next movie for the crowd.

Stanfield, an Oscar nominee, stars alongside Emmy winner Ben Mendelsohn in the story of a man who descends into the abandoned tunnels beneath New York City and discovers a "twisted society lurking beneath the streets." Rob Savage directs from a script by Nathan Elston.

Blumhouse Atomic Monster and Paramount Primal will co-finance and co-produce the film, with Paramount handling worldwide distribution. The producers include Blumhouse Atomic Monster chief Jason Blum; Paramount Primal heads J.D. Lifshitz and Raphael Margules; and James Harris. Elston, Savage, Ryan Turek and Tracy Rosenblum serve as executive producers.

What does the partnership signal?

The project unites two horror operations built on the same economic playbook. Paramount Primal, one of the key specialty labels in Skydance's film division, focuses on "smartly budgeted" projects with a distinct point of view and what the label describes as a "pulp sensibility." Blumhouse Atomic Monster spent two decades pioneering that methodology of turning low-budget genre films into hits.

The merged Blumhouse Atomic Monster, formed in 2024 when Blum's Blumhouse combined with James Wan's Atomic Monster, has grossed more than $10 billion in worldwide box office and has represented approximately half of the horror market over the last decade. The company has produced over 250 movies and television series.

Its franchises include:

• "The Conjuring" universe, the most successful horror franchise in history
• "Halloween," "The Purge," "Annabelle" and "Paranormal Activity"
• "The Black Phone," "The Exorcist," "Insidious," "The Nun"
• "M3GAN" and "Five Nights at Freddy's"

A strong year for the studio

This year, "Obsession" and "Backrooms" became the highest-grossing films ever for Focus Features and A24, respectively, and helped Blumhouse Atomic Monster reach $1 billion in worldwide box office for the second consecutive year. The company's latest release, "Other Mommy," is expected to top this week's box office charts despite negative reviews.

Paramount Primal's upcoming slate shows similar genre ambitions. It includes "Boys for Life," with Alex Wolff, set for theatrical release on April 9, 2027; "Sweet Spot," a high-concept thriller spec from writing duo Nic Curcio and Kirby Gladstein; and "The Troop," based on the acclaimed horror novel by Nick Cutter. The label also recently acquired the U.S. rights to adapt the original screenplay for "A Nightmare on Elm Street" from the Wes Craven estate, and is developing the R-rated fantasy "Tower Defense" from writer Evan Daugherty.

A Blumhouse reunion for Stanfield

"Molepeople" marks Stanfield's third movie with Blumhouse. He had a bit part in 2014's "The Purge: Anarchy" and played a key role in Jordan Peele's Oscar-winning 2017 film "Get Out," the studio's breakout hit.

With a locked 2027 date, a marquee pairing of Stanfield and Mendelsohn, and two genre powerhouses sharing financing, "Molepeople" positions itself as a flagship title for both labels as they compete for the horror audience that Blumhouse Atomic Monster already dominates.