Paul Giamatti has signed on to star in a television adaptation of Eli Roth‘s horror franchise Hostel. The project is currently developing at Fifth Season, the studio behind Severance, and does not yet have a distributor attached. Roth is set to direct and write along with original franchise producer Chris Briggs. Both will also executive produce alongside Mike Fleiss.
The 2005 Hostel movie, centered around American tourists who are convinced by a stranger to travel from Barcelona to Slovakia, where they are then taken captive by an underground organization that kidnaps people for rich clients to torture and kill them. It not only became a cult hit but also spawned two sequels. The first installment collected $82 million atop a $4.8 million budget. The less lucrative sequel, 2007’s Hostel: Part II, still raked in more than $35 million against a $10.2 million budget.
A Modern Horror Reinvention
The upcoming series is envisioned as a “modern adaptation” and “reinvention” of the low-budget horror franchise. With Eli Roth at the helm, fans can expect his trademark gory style. Details on the plot remain scarce, but the promise of familiar terror is enticing.
Fresh Off Awards Season
My all-time favorite horror movie is still The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
, Paul Giamatti shared during an awards circuit interview. Fresh off his recent Golden Globe win for The Holdovers, he expressed his growing interest in the horror genre.
Diversified Portfolio of Roth
Eli Roth has been active beyond Hostel. His recent projects include the first-ever live-action VR series The Faceless Lady, released by Meta, and his 2023 horror film Thanksgiving. He also directed the video game adaptation Borderlands starring Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, and Jamie Lee Curtis, set to hit theaters soon.
A Glimpse at the Past
The original Hostel captured audiences with its gritty storyline involving unassuming tourists and a shadowy organization catering to dark desires. It delivered shocks aplenty and established itself as a prominent name within the horror genre. According to reports: 2005’s Hostel centers around a group of American tourists convinced by a stranger to journey to Slovakia, where they are kidnapped by a secretive organization that lures tourists captive for rich clients to torture and kill them for fun.
An Established Team Behind the Project
The collaborative history between Eli Roth and producer Chris Briggs continues with this series. Briggs, known for producing the previous films in the franchise, remains integral to its execution, ensuring continuity in its terrifying legacy.
Favorite Horror Movie Insight
Paul Giamatti’s passion for horror illuminates his enthusiasm for tackling this new role: The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is my favorite horror movie.
The Road Ahead
The development phase is ongoing at Fifth Season without a distributor attached yet. As anticipation builds, further information on casting and plot details remain awaited eagerly by fans of the franchise and newcomers drawn by Giamatti’s star power.
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