Adelaide hit horror directors tap Oscar nominee for next film

Danny and Michael Philippou, the twin filmmakers behind last years horror hit Talk To Me, will direct and write the original film Bring Her Back.

Sally Hawkins (The Shape of Water) is set to star in Bring Her Back, an original horror film to be written by the Philippou brothers

Danny and Michael Philippou, the Adelaide-born twin directors of last year’s box office horror hit Talk To Me, will reteam with the tastemaking independent production company A24 on their next horror film, and they’ve tapped a two-time Oscar nominee to star.

Sally Hawkins (The Shape of Water) is set to star in Bring Her Back, an original horror film to be written by the Philippou brothers, 31.

The project, which will begin filming later this year, sees the twin filmmakers re-team with the producers of Talk To Me, Causeway Films’ Samantha Jennings and Kristina Ceyton, whose credits include The Babadook and The Nightingale.

Actress Sally Hawkins. Picture: AFP

Michael Philippou and Danny Philippou accept the AACTA Award for Best Direction in Film for Talk to Me. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images for AFI

Talk To Me, which was shot on a $7 million budget in 2022, made its international debut at Sundance Film Festival last year, acquired by A24 for a “high seven figures” sum. “We were just completely overwhelmed,” Danny told The Australian of the acquisition.

The film went on to take more than $140 million globally, becoming A24’s highest-grossing horror film and second-highest-grossing film overall — bested only by the Oscar-winner Everything Everywhere All At Once.

At the AACTA awards in February, the film took home eight trophies, including a win for best film and best director, with star Sophie Wilde beating out Cate Blanchett (The New Boy) for the best lead actress trophy. Talk to Me also notched Wilde her first-ever BAFTA award nomination in the rising star category.

Sophie Wilde accepts the AACTA Award for Best Lead Actress in Film for Talk to Me. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images for AFI

Before the Philippou twins pivoted to directing, they were well known for their horror comedy YouTube videos under their channel “RackaRacka” — an homage to their Adelaide hometown, Pooraka — which had built a loyal following of almost 7 million. The Philippous are also developing a Talk To Me sequel for the studio and a documentary project inspired by their own journey into the world of international underground deathmatch wrestling. They have been attached to direct a new adaptation of the Street Fighter video game franchise.

Cate Blanchett and Sally Hawkins in a scene from Woody Allen's film Blue Jasmine. Picture: Hopscotch Entertainment

British star Hawkins, 48, is a two time Oscar nominee. She earned her first nod in 2014 for her role in the Woody Allen film Blue Jasmine, in which she starred alongside Cate Blanchett. Her second nomination came in 2018, with Guillermo Del Toro’s Best Picture0-winner The Shape of Water.