Paul Giamatti has signed on to star in a television adaptation of Eli Roth’s horror franchise Hostel. The project is currently in development at Fifth Season, the studio behind Severance, though no distributor has been attached yet.
Roth to Direct and Write
Roth is set to direct and write, collaborating with original franchise producer Chris Briggs. Both will executive produce along with Mike Fleiss, known for his work on The Bachelor.
A Fresh Take on the Franchise
The Hostel series originally premiered in 2005 and followed American tourists who were taken captive by an underground organization that caters to the sadistic desires of wealthy clients. The TV adaptation aims to be a modern adaptation and reinvention of this story. The first film was a financial success, grossing $82 million on a $4.8 million budget. Its sequel, Hostel: Part II, brought in over $35 million against a $10.2 million budget.
Returning to Horror
Giamatti’s involvement comes after his successful stint in The Holdovers, which earned him a Golden Globe award and critical acclaim. He shared with Variety that he has a love for the horror genre, particularly classics like The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.
Giamatti’s other notable works include Billions, Saving Private Ryan, Sideshow, and Sideways, illustrating his range as an actor.
Eli Roth Expands His Horror Universe
Eli Roth continues to push boundaries in horror with projects like ‘The Faceless Lady,’ a VR series created with Meta, proving the genre’s capacity for innovation. Roth explained the success of the podcast version of his show:The reaction to Season One was beyond my wildest expectations…on the podcast, we can really take our time, hear the full conversation and learn so much more.
A Look Back at ‘Hostel’
The original Hostel films made a significant mark on the horror genre, known for their extreme gore and psychological terror. While Hostel: Part III, directed by Scott Spiegel without Roth’s involvement, was less financially successful and went straight to DVD in 2011, it still resonated with a segment of horror fans.
An Evolving Genre
With Chris Briggs returning as a producer, revisiting his past attempt to set ‘Hostel 3’ in Vegas seems ever more relevant.The Bachelor can’t exist in a vacuum, and it always has to evolve,
says Rob Mills about how continuous evolution is key for long-standing franchises. This idea aligns well with trying to modernize Hostel.
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