Universal Pictures is capitalizing on the heat from Sydney Sweeney and the success of The Housemaid by stepping on the gas on its own Sweeney thriller, The Caretaker.
Indie horror darling David Bruckner has been tapped to direct the feature project that adapts the upcoming book by Marcus Kliewer and that was initially set up as short story in 2022.
Sweeney is producing Caretaker through her Fifty-Fifty Films as are Michael Bay and Brad Fuller via their Platinum Dunes label’s first-look deal with the studio. Scott Glassgold will produce through 12:01 Films.
Caretaker is based on the second novel by Kliewer, a short story writer whose 2024 debut breakout We Used To Live Here established him as a leading voice in literary horror. Caretaker hits shelves Apr. 21 from Simon & Schuster and Atria’s horror imprint 12:01 Books and marks the first book release from 12:01 Books, a joint venture between Simon & Schuster, Emily Bestler and Glassgold.
The book tells of a struggling young woman named Macy Mullins who answers a job posting for three days work and competitive pay (plus: serious applicants only) in the Oregan wilderness.
Then, according to the publisher, “what starts as a peculiar side gig soon becomes a waking nightmare. An incomprehensible evil may dwell on this property—and Macy Mullins might just be the only thing standing between it, and the rest of humanity.”
In addition to directing, Bruckner will write the script. The previous drafts were written by Karl Gajdusek (The King’s Man) and Drew Crevello (WeCrashed).
Universal had no comment on the director hiring.
Any Sweeney project in a studio’s pantry has become a hot commodity in light of the runaway success of Housemaid, Lionsgate’s adaptation of the book by Freida McFadden. Made on a budget of only $35 million, the movie grossed over $400 million worldwide when released in December.
The Sweeney heat seems to have continued with the April 12 premiere of Euphoria, which attracted 8.5 million viewers across all platforms in its first three days, according to HBO. Sweeney stars in the show alongside Zendaya, Jacob Elordi and others.
Bruckner is a respected name in the horror thriller field, best known for his thriller Night House, which starred Rebecca Hall as a widow dealing with her husband’s disturbing secrets. The movie caused a stir at the 2021 edition of the Sundance Film Festival when Searchlight closed a $12 million deal to pick up worldwide rights.
Bruckner also directed the woodsy horror movie The Ritual and the 2022 reboot of Hellraiser. He previously helmed sections of the horror anthologies V/H/S and Southbound as well as episodes of Creepshow.
Bruckner is repped by WME and Untitled.
