Anarchists United Studios frames the project as a clever, irreverent exploration of socioeconomic commentary, emphasizing that 'besties are worth fighting for' even in the vampiric age.
Insiders note the heavy involvement of LGBTQIA+-led creators, with Hill and Young leveraging their decade-long cult following to attract major talent like Wachowski and Glosserman for this niche horror-comedy.
Scott Glosserman directs. Olivia Hill wrote the script. The source material is a series of 7 novels and a tabletop RPG by Machine Age Productions. A TV pilot with Anne Cofell Saunders is also in development.
This isn't just another monster movie; it's a receipt-heavy critique of capitalism with Hollywood heavyweights betting on queer horror.
The gig economy is getting a horror makeover, and Lilly Wachowski is holding the stake. In a move that screams 'cult classic potential,' the 'Matrix' creator has signed on as an executive producer for the film adaptation of 'iHunt: Killing Monsters in the Gig Economy.' This isn't your typical studio cash-grab; it’s a passion project born from the independently distributed novel series and tabletop RPG by Chicago-based queer married duo Olivia Hill and Filamena Young.
For ten years, Hill and Young have built the 'iHunt' universe under their Machine Age Productions banner, releasing seven novels that blend supernatural horror with sharp socioeconomic commentary. Now, that niche world is stepping into the mainstream spotlight, with Hill herself penning the screenplay. The creative team is stacking the deck with talent that understands the genre’s deeper implications.
Scott Glosserman, the director behind the cult favorite 'Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon' and its currently-in-production sequel, has taken the helm. Glosserman’s interest isn't just about blood and guts; he’s drawn to the script’s exploration of 'the illusion of choice in a world where survival itself has become a gig.' He describes the project as irreverent and provocative, noting that beneath the monsters lies a story about 'what freedom really means when you can’t afford to say no.' Joining Wachowski as executive producers are Sarah Marie Flores and Lawrence Mattis, while production duties are shared by Matt Skrobalak of Butler Hall Productions, Stirling Matheson of Bravura Arts and Entertainment Ltd., and the source material’s original creators.
The narrative centers on three best friends in the fictional California city of San Jenaro who navigate monster hunting through a gig-work app, blending horror-comedy with biting commentary on late-stage capitalism. As Hill and Young stated, 'If you’ve stood up to eviction and Dracula, you know eviction can be so much scarier.' This thematic core has clearly resonated with Anarchists United Studios, who are producing the film and released a statement calling the project a 'referential and all too relatable world' where 'access to health insurance bites.' The cast features Jess Elgene as Sandra, a new character created specifically for the film, adding a fresh face to the established lore.
But the 'iHunt' expansion doesn’t stop at the big screen. A television pilot is also in development, written by Hill and Young, with Anne Cofell Saunders—the showrunner behind 'The Boys'—attached to lead the series. The pilot’s logline introduces a different crew led by Lana, a broke hunter whose routine hospital job spirals into a full-blown monster infestation, catching the attention of Arthur, an ancient vampire executive.
Additionally, the franchise is branching into vertical video content with '#iHunt: A Night in the Life,' where a struggling hunter named Hannah livestreams her hunts to make money. With this multi-pronged approach, Hill and Young are proving that in the modern horror landscape, content is king—and sometimes, that content involves staking vampires while worrying about rent.
