Octavia Spencer recently commented that she wanted to get out of period roles…and it seems she’s doing just that.
On the heels of her holiday comedy with Jessica Chastain, it was announced today that she will be starring in the latest thriller film from Blumhouse, Ma.
In the film, she’ll star as “a lonely woman who befriends a group of teenagers with tortuous consequences.”
Juliette Lewis and Luke Evans also star. Lethal Weapon‘s Dante Brown is playing one of the teens.
The film is a re-team between Spencer and The Help director Tate Taylor, who is directing this film.
Taylor told Variety, “It’s dark material, but it’s also really fun. Octavia is so damn likable that we usually see her in certain roles. But she’s such a good actress and this is such a complex character that if I do my job right, people in the audience are going to want to push pause and say, ‘Can we please take you out for coffee so you don’t do what you’re about to do.’”
On Spencer’s role, he said, “I wouldn’t call her a villain,” he said. “It’s definitely the most complex character she’s ever played, if I may be so bold as to say that.”
Blum said, “She’s an extraordinary actress at the top of her talents right now,” Blum said. “To have her in one of our movies is just a real confirmation of the value that we’ve built with our little system.”
Spencer is currently Oscar-nominated for The Shape of Water.