Dan Stevens is having the time of his life as Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire has become a big hit for Warner Bros and Legendary. His latest release Abigail has also received great reviews from critics and audiences, with many praising his performance. His versatility in switching from a delightfully charming role to an intense individual in the two films is impressive, to say the least.
He has yet another horror film later this year titled Cuckoo, where he stars alongside Hunter Schafer. The horror genre has seen a huge evolution over the years with the Conjuring films, along with Immaculate and The First Omen this year, Stevens is set to continue in the horror genre as he is set to team up with Al Pacino for a new exorcism film.
Dan Stevens and Al Pacino Set to Star in New Horror Film, The Ritual
Hollywood has come a long way in the ways they conceive horror films and how people respond to them. Horror films consisting of exorcisms and the supernatural have been very popular from the 70s and 80s, most famously The Exorcist franchise. By the 2010s The Conjuring franchise took over that trend and brought in more people signaling their interest in these types of films.
Dan Stevens is now having his peak moment in the industry with audiences lapping up both of his films Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire and Abigail. With another horror film Cuckoo on the horizon, Stevens has landed another horror film. According to Variety, the Godzilla star will act opposite Al Pacino in an exorcism horror film titled The Ritual.
The plot concerns two troubled priests played by Stevens and Pacino who come together to save a possessed young woman through a series of exorcisms. Audiences pointed out the abundance of films involving exorcisms (last year’s The Pope’s Exorcist) and antichrist elements (The First Omen), while also commenting on the rise of the horror genre. Here are some of the reactions on X,
What is up with all these exorcism and anti-Christ movies coming out lately. It's like they're trying to tell us something.
— Search Eternal (@Search_Eternal) April 23, 2024
Horror is back in it seems
— JP1976THFC (@JP1976THFC) April 23, 2024
Damn Horror is making a solid come back. Love it!!
— FonzTheTrekkie (@FonzTheTrekkie) April 23, 2024
Watching for Dan pic.twitter.com/zsg12mF1OG
— ˌɑːrkˈeɪndʒəl (@ihatebradpitt) April 24, 2024
We are living in a horror golden age right now.
— Josh Jacks (@Photo_Jacks) April 23, 2024
Fun fact Al Pacino was almost cast in William Fredikin's The Exorcist
— Jonathan Ortega (@Jonatha80958138) April 23, 2024
The film will be directed by David Midell who last directed the critically acclaimed 2019 film The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain. Stevens and Pacino are powerhouses who have constantly elevated their game in showing their versatility in various projects and their union will certainly excite cinephiles.
Adam Wingard Believes Dan Stevens’ Time to be a Major Movie Star Has Come
Dan Stevens has been in the industry for quite some time now and while he is not an A-list superstar, he is been consistently impressing audiences with amazing versatility in his films. From The Guest, Downton Abbey Marshall, Apostle, Legion, to his new films Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire and Abigail, the actor has shown that he can play almost every role given to him.
In an interview with Variety, The Guest‘s director Adam Wingard, who reunited with Stevens recently with Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, stated that Stevens has proven himself as a bonafide actor over the years and his major movie star status has been long overdue. He believes that while it took some time for studios to notice that, things are changing now. Wingard said,
“I feel like he’s been waiting in the wings to be a major movie star leading man for as long as anyone. He’s proven himself. It’s really just a matter of the studios and producers catching up to that. But I do think we’re there.”
Stevens is having a great year and is set to continue his 2024 spotlight with the upcoming horror film Cuckoo. He stars alongside Hunter Schafer, Jan Bluthardt, Marton Csokas, and Jessica Henwick in the film. Cuckoo is scheduled to be released in theatres on August 9, 2024.
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire and Abigail are currently running successfully in theaters.
