A new take on the cult horror classic “Audition,” one of the more influential modern horror films in the torture-porn genre, is coming to the screen.
Focus Features is nearing a deal to produce a feature adaptation of “Audition” based on the 1997 horror-thriller novel by Ryū Murakami, which was originally brought to the screen by Japanese master Takashi Miike in 1999 starring Ryo Ishibashi and Eihi Shiina.
Focus will produce the project alongside Ashok Amritraj’s Hyde Park Entertainment and Mario Kassar Productions, who have tapped Christian Tafdrup to write and direct the film. Tafdrup is the Danish director behind the original “Speak No Evil,” which was last year adapted into English by Blumhouse and Universal. Tafdrup is co-writing the script with his brother Mads Tafdrup.
“Audition” starts as a domestic drama of a widower who is holding mock auditions in order to find a new wife, only to discover that the woman he selects has a disturbing secret and dark past, quickly pivoting into intense psychological horror. Though hardly a box office hit and barely known in its native Japan, the film is one of Miike’s best-known movies among Western audiences. IndieWire previously named “Audition” as Miike’s best film, and the film has inspired directors like Eli Roth and the “Saw” franchise.
The new film is being described not as a remake of Miike’s film but a new take on the original novel.
Focus would produce alongside Hyde Park’s Ashok and Priya Amritraj and Mario Kassar for MKP. Murakami is also executive producing, as are Chris McGurk and Yolanda Macias for Cineverse, the studio behind “Terrifier 2 and 3.” Joyce Jun is also an EP.
Tafdrup is also an actor known for his role in the 2017 adventure series “Tinkas Juleeventyr.” He was nominated for Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Film for “Speak No Evil” at the 2023 Danish Film Awards.
Deadline first reported the news on the project.
