Director Egor Abramenko gave a new twist to the creature feature in 2020’s Sputnik. He’s now set to take on biblical terror in God’s Country, marking his American directorial debut. Deadline reports that Bodies Bodies Bodies star Maria Bakalova will lead the Matt Reeves-produced genre pic.
God’s Country will follow “a young woman who travels to Kentucky to meet her fiancé, subsequently uncovering something sinister beyond comprehension, as her American dream curdles into a nightmare of biblical proportions.”
Will Soodik (“Westworld”) wrote the script.
Bakalova takes over for Melissa Barrera, who reportedly exited the role due scheduling conflicts. God’s Country is set to go into production in Romania under a SAG-AFTRA Interim Agreement in March. Barrera was announced to lead the project in February earlier this year, where her character was described as a Salvadoran woman.
What’s most fascinating about this is that Reeves told Deadline at the time, “Egor is an exciting emerging talent, and I’m thrilled to be making a monster movie together.”
In other words, God’s Country reads like a biblical thriller but Reeves’ comment suggests another potential creature feature on the way from Abramenko.
Maraboyina’s Suraj Maraboyina and Castel’s Cristi Bostanescu will produce alongside Matt Reeves (The Batman) and Rafi Crohn (Tales from the Loop) for 6th & Idaho, ZQ Entertainment’s Ara Keshishian and Petr Jákl (who financed the development), and Adam Kassan (End of Watch). It’s also worth noting that Reeves’ 6th & Idaho is behind the planned American remake of Sputnik that was announced in 2021.
Bakalova broke out with her Oscar-nominated turn opposite Sacha Baron Cohen in Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, and has since become an in-demand actor. Aside from lead role in A24’s Bodies Bodies Bodies, look for Bakalova to lend her voice talents in upcoming animated series “Creature Commandos.”
Stay tuned for additional details on God’s Country as they arrive.