In 2020, Director Egor Abramenko added a unique twist to the creature feature genre with “Sputnik.” Now, he’s venturing into the realm of biblical horror with “God’s Country,” marking his American directorial debut. According to a report from Deadline, Maria Bakalova, known for her role in “Bodies Bodies Bodies,” will lead the cast of this genre film produced by Matt Reeves.

“God’s Country” will follow the journey of a young woman traveling to Kentucky to meet her fiancé. However, her American dream takes a nightmarish turn when she uncovers something of biblical proportions that defies comprehension.

The script for the film was penned by Will Soodik, known for his work on “Westworld.” Bakalova has taken over the role from Melissa Barrera, who had to step down due to scheduling conflicts. Production for “God’s Country” is scheduled to begin in Romania in March under a SAG-AFTRA Interim Agreement. When initially announced, Barrera was set to lead the project, portraying a Salvadoran woman.

What’s particularly intriguing about this project is the enthusiasm of Matt Reeves, who stated to Deadline, “Egor is an exciting emerging talent, and I’m thrilled to be making a monster movie together.” This suggests that “God’s Country” may have elements of a creature feature as well, adding to the anticipation surrounding the film.

Producing the movie are Suraj Maraboyina of Maraboyina’s, Cristi Bostanescu of Castel, Matt Reeves of “The Batman” fame, Rafi Crohn of “Tales from the Loop,” Ara Keshishian of ZQ Entertainment (who financed the development), and Adam Kassan of “End of Watch.” It’s worth noting that Matt Reeves’ 6th & Idaho is also behind the planned American remake of “Sputnik,” which was announced in 2021.

Maria Bakalova gained widespread recognition for her Oscar-nominated performance opposite Sacha Baron Cohen in “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm” and has since become a sought-after actor in the industry. Besides her leading role in A24’s “Bodies Bodies Bodies,” she’s set to lend her voice to an upcoming animated series titled “Creature Commandos.”

Stay tuned for more updates and details about “God’s Country” as they become available.