Emilia Clarke & Victoria Pedretti to Star in ‘When Darkness Loves Us’ from ‘The Rule of Jenny Pen’ Director

Emilia Clarke (“Game of Thrones,” Terminator: Genisys) is starring in When Darkness Loves Us from director James Ashcroft (The Rule of Jenny Pen).

Umbrella has acquired the horror film, which recently wrapped production in New Zealand, for a 2027 theatrical release.

Marlon Williams (“Sweet Tooth”), Victoria Pedretti (“The Haunting of Hill House”), and Natascha McElhone (The Truman Show) co-star.

The story follows a young woman (Clarke) who, after surviving 15 years trapped in an underground cave system, returns to the surface to reclaim the family she believes is hers, no matter the monstrous cost.

Ashcroft co-wrote the script with Hayley Sproull and Eli Kent, based on Elizabeth Engstrom’s 1985 horror novella of the same name.

“My passion for Elizabeth Engstrom’s story remains boundless; what an absolute gift it has been bringing this work to the screen,” said Ashcroft. “With When Darkness Loves Us, Liz never lets us forget that the actions of her characters are by turns both tragic and monstrous — no matter how sympathetic they may be. But it’s their indelible humanity that can’t be so easily shaken off afterwards, and that’s when we find ourselves at home in the darkness with them.”

“The term ‘world-building’ is wildly overused, but the degree to which James and team have built a subterranean universe cannot be understated,” added Bleecker CEO Kent Sanderson. “This film is a true journey into the darkness, literally and figuratively, and we can’t wait to shock audiences worldwide with James’ singular vision.”

Desray Armstrong (“Wellington Paranormal”) produces. Ant Timpson (Housebound, Turbo Kid) serves as executive producer alongside Ashcroft, Clarke, Katherine Bridle, Bleecker’s Kent Sanderson & Tyler DiNapoli, and Umbrella Entertainment’s Ari Harrison & Jasmin McSweeney.