Lee Cronin, the acclaimed Irish director behind the 2023 horror hit “Evil Dead Rise,” has unveiled his next major venture. Teaming up with frequent collaborators John Keville and Macdara Kelleher of Wild Atlantic Pictures, Cronin has launched a new production company named Doppelgängers. This new outfit will focus on genre films and television projects, with Cronin at the helm as both writer and director.
Doppelgängers has already secured a first-look deal with New Line Cinema, the studio that released “Evil Dead Rise.” The film, which premiered at SXSW in 2023, was a commercial success, grossing $147 million worldwide. Cronin and New Line are currently working on a new horror-thriller titled “Thaw.”
Under the Doppelgängers banner, Cronin, Keville, and Kelleher aim to develop a range of genre-focused projects. Cronin will not only write and direct but also produce these projects alongside Keville and Kelleher. The duo’s previous credits include the R-rated comedy “Cocaine Bear” and the critically acclaimed fantasy film “The Green Knight,” starring Dev Patel.
Cronin expressed that the formation of Doppelgängers was a natural progression of his evolving relationship with Keville and Kelleher. “Aligned in our hunger and ambition to create striking stories for wide audiences, we decided to seize the opportunity to formalize our partnership with this new venture,” Cronin stated.
Regarding the deal with New Line Cinema, Cronin added, “Following a wonderful journey working on ‘Evil Dead Rise,’ the brilliant team at New Line Cinema have offered us the perfect home for the movies we want to bring to life on the big screen. We couldn’t be more thrilled to continue building our relationship with them.”
Keville and Kelleher praised Cronin’s unique vision and proven box office success. “Lee is an inventive creator who always strives to engage audiences with his character-driven stories,” they said. “We are thrilled to be building Doppelgängers around his vision and are excited to forge relationships with the most ambitious writers and directors. Collectively, we want Doppelgängers to become a destination for the very best storytellers.”
Cronin and Doppelgängers are represented by CAA, MGMT, and attorney Jeff Hynick.
The announcement of Doppelgängers comes on the heels of the success of “Evil Dead Rise,” a standalone entry in the “Evil Dead” film series. The movie stars Lily Sullivan and Alyssa Sutherland as estranged sisters who must survive a nightmarish ordeal involving demonic entities. The film received positive reviews and became the highest-grossing installment in the franchise.
The development of “Evil Dead Rise” was a long journey, with initial plans for direct sequels to “Evil Dead” (2013) and “Army of Darkness” (1992) being scrapped. By October 2019, Sam Raimi announced a new film was in the works, with Cronin writing and directing. Principal photography took place in New Zealand from June to October 2021, and the film was initially set to premiere on HBO Max. However, after positive test screenings, Warner Bros. Pictures opted for a theatrical release.
“Evil Dead Rise” had its world premiere at SXSW on March 15, 2023, and was released in the United States on April 21, 2023. The film’s success at the box office and its positive critical reception have solidified Cronin’s reputation as a genre auteur.
With Doppelgängers, Cronin aims to continue his streak of creating compelling, character-driven stories that captivate audiences. The new production company is poised to become a significant player in the genre film and television landscape, thanks to its strong foundation and promising first-look deal with New Line Cinema.
As Cronin, Keville, and Kelleher embark on this new venture, the film industry eagerly anticipates the innovative and thrilling projects that Doppelgängers will bring to life.
