After drawing major notice at Sundance this year, Mark Webber (Save The Date, The End of Love, For a Good Time, Call…) is looking to win some mainstream attention. Variety reports the indie actor/writer/director has just signed on to star opposite Sarah Snook (Sleeping Beauty) in Lionsgate's horror feature Jessabelle. Snook is an Aussie starlet who was among the final round of actresses considered for the role of Lisbeth Salander in David Fincher's Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. While that highly coveted part ultimately went to Rooney Mara, Snook now has her chance for a Stateside breakthrough, taking on Jessabelle's title character.
The horror flick will be helmed by Saw 3D director Kevin Greutert, and centers on a young woman who discovers the mysterious circumstances of her birth after a horrid auto accident forces her to move back in with her father. There, in his Louisiana home, she attempts to cope with her crippling injuries that have left her legs immobile, when a furious spirit begins to torment her. Snook will tackle the part of the terrorized paraplegic, and Webber will play a childhood friend who helps her uncover some shocking family secrets.
Unexpectedly, this twisted screenplay was penned by comedian Robert Ben Garant, who was one of the co-creators of the '90s sketch comedy series The State and memorably played Deputy Travis Junior on Reno 911! This all makes for a curious yet compelling mix of talent: a gorno helmer, a comedy writer, an impressive ingénue and an indie star. It's difficult to predict how Jessabelle will turn out, but I confess, I'm eager to see the results.
Production on Jessabelle kicks off April 2nd.
