Samara Weaving Horror Movie ‘Azrael’ Picked Up by Republic Pictures (Exclusive)

Republic Pictures, the acquisitions label under Paramount Pictures, has picked up North American rights to Azrael, an action-horror movie from the C2 Motion Picture Group.

The high-concept feature comes with a strong horror pedigree. It is toplined by Samara Weaving, a star in the genre thanks to Ready or Not and The Babysitter movie series, and was directed by E.L. Katz, a rising name who has directed episodes of Haunting of Bly Manor and Channel Zero. And it was written by Simon Barrett, the scribe behind fan favorites The Guest and You’re Next.

No distribution plans were revealed, but there is hope for a theatrical release.

Azrael is set in a world in which no one speaks and centers on a devout, female-led community that hunts down a young woman, the self-titled character played by Weaving, who has escaped her imprisonment. Recaptured by its ruthless leaders, Azrael is to be sacrificed to pacify an ancient evil that resides deep within the surrounding wilderness, but she will stop at nothing to ensure her own freedom and survival.

The filmmakers describe the movie as a relentless parable of sacrifice and salvation, and it unspools in real time.

Jason Cloth and Dave Caplan’s C2 Motion Picture Group won the rights to the hot project in a competitive bidding situation last fall and fully financed and produced the film. Also producing are Dan Kagan (Boy Kills World) and Barrett.

Jason Cloth (Joker, Licorice Pizza) and Katrin Kissa (November) are executive producers.

CAA Media Finance and UTA Independent Film Group co-represented domestic sales for film. Mossbank is handling international sales.

C2 has established a strong relationship with Paramount. The company has co-financed four Paramount features in the last year: Babylon, Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, and Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, Part 1.

It’s also C2’s second distribution deal with Republic. In May, Republic acquired North American rights to The End We Start From, the company’s survival thriller starring Jodie Comer that premiered to strong reviews at the Toronto International Film Festival. That movie will hit theaters Dec. 8.

Republic’s recent pickups also include The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial, the final movie directed by William Friedkin, which will debut in the U.S. on Paramount+ and Showtime Oct. 6.