EXCLUSIVE: Brenton Thwaites (We Bury the Dead), Grace Van Dien (Stranger Things), Emile Hirsch (Into the Wild), and Ron Perlman (Hellboy) are to star in Beg the Devil, which Film Mode Entertainment is repping at the Cannes Market. 

Co-written and directed by Alex Turner (Dead Birds), the film is said to be based on the novel The Cleanup by Sean Doolittle, who also co-wrote the screenplay. The film is produced by Hicham Benkirane of HBK F.C. (Murder City) alongside Turner. 

The official synopsis reads: “Beg the Devil follows a down-on-his-luck cop (Thwaites) who falls for a sharp-witted supermarket checkout girl (Van Dien) harboring secrets of her own. When he finds himself behind the wheel of a dead man’s car loaded with stolen cash, their unexpected connection spirals into a high-stakes fight for survival—with no reverse gear.” 

Executive producers include Sean Doolittle, Brendan Thomas, Matt Luber, and Clay Epstein. Production is slated to begin in September in the US.

“Hicham and Alex have attracted an incredible cast, which really demonstrates how fantastic this material is,” Clay Epstein, President of Film Mode Entertainment, said in a statement. “With fans of the novel already excited for an adaptation, we’re confident audiences are going to love this movie.”

Turner added: “At its core, Beg the Devil is about flawed people trying to stay one step ahead of their own decisions. The blend of morally ambiguous characters you care about, real danger, and uncomfortable humor is what immediately excited me about Sean Doolittle’s novel, and I’m thrilled to bring that vision to the screen.”