This September, you’re invited somewhere timeless.Jack Blackand two-time Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett star inThe House with a Clock in Its Walls, from Amblin Entertainment. Universal Pictures has released the first trailer along with the poster, which you can check out here.
In the tradition of Amblin classics where fantastical events occur in the most unexpected places, this magical adventure tells the spine-tingling tale of 10-year-old Lewis (Owen Vaccaro) who goes to live with his uncle in a creaky old house with a mysterious tick-tocking heart. But his new town’s sleepy façade jolts to life with a secret world of warlocks and witches when Lewis accidentally awakens the dead.
Based on the beloved children’s classicwritten by John Bellairs and illustrated by Edward Gorey,The House with a Clock in Its Wallsis directed by master frightener Eli Roth and written by Eric Kripke (creator of TV’sSupernatural). Co-starring Kyle MacLachlan, Colleen Camp, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Vanessa Anne Williams, Lorenza Izzo and Sunny Suljic, it is produced by Mythology Entertainment’s Brad Fischer (Shutter Island) and James Vanderbilt (Zodiac), as well as Kripke. Executive produced by William Sherak, Tracey Nyberg, Laeta Kalogridis and Mark McNair,The House with a Clock in Its Wallswill be released by Universal Pictures.
The House With the Clock on Its Wallsmarks amajor turn for director Eli Roth. He is mostly known for his cult horror outings such asCabin in the Woodsand theHostelfranchise. He most recently returned to theaters earlier this year with Bruce Willis' remake ofDeath Wish, which was received with mixed reviews from fans and critics alike. He knows his way around a chainsaw and caters to buckets of blood. This is his first real foray intofare meant for young adults and families. And that edge will surely make it something special.
Cate Blanchett, on the other hand, is no stranger to the YA realm of filmmaking. She most recently played the evil Stepmother in Disney’s live-action remake ofCinderella. And she was the main villain in Disney and Marvel’sThor: Ragnarok. She also plays Kaa in Andy Serkis' upcoming darker take on theJungle BooktitledMowgliand is known for voicing characters in theHow to Train Your Dragonfranchise.
Jack Black, on the other hand, has made a career out of starring in darker fare aimed at children and this fits right in with his more recent movies. He played the iconic R.L. Stine inGoosebumpsand will return for its sequel. He has also appeared in other family friendly movies with a sharp edge, includingNacho Libre,School of Rock,Gulliver’s Travelsand theKung Fu Pandafranchise. He also most recent starred in the huge blockbusterJumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. Now, he appears to be in control of a new world of weirdness inThe House with the Clock in Its Walls. And it could be a surprise hit with audiences of all ages. Check out the trailer and poster thanks to Universal Pictures.
