Following her breakout success with Relic in 2020 and this year’s Apartment 7A, a prequel to Rosemary’s Baby, filmmaker Natalie Erika James is now directing the supernatural body horror film Saccharine, according to Deadline.

The lead role of Hana will be played by Midori Francis (Unseen, Grey’s Anatomy), with the film telling the story of Hana, a lovelorn medical student who becomes tormented by a vengeful ghost after participating in a bizarre weight-loss trend involving the consumption of human ashes.

Joining Francis in key roles are Danielle Macdonald (Patti Cake$) as Josie, Hana’s best friend, and Madeleine Madden (The Wheel of Time) as Alanya, a personal trainer and fitness influencer.

James shared her thoughts on the project, saying, “There is so much toxic messaging around weight and appearance that permeates every corner of our culture. Saccharine is an intimate look into one woman’s struggle with body image, self-worth, and shame-driven compulsion, told through a supernatural body-horror lens with a queer perspective and a touch of the absurd.”

The film promises to offer a fresh and bold take by combining supernatural horror with body horror, a concept that feels both unique and unsettling.

Once again, James is collaborating with producers Anna McLeish and Sarah Shaw of Carver Films (Relic, Run Rabbit Run, Snowtown), who expressed their excitement for the project: “Saccharine explodes off the page with Natalie’s bold vision. To team with her again is such a sweet pleasure for us. We can’t wait to see Midori, Danielle, and Madeleine bring these incredible women to life.”

Filming is currently underway in Melbourne, Australia. Saccharine will be distributed theatrically in Australia and New Zealand by Maslow Entertainment and will debut as a Stan Original Film on Stan. XYZ will handle world sales.

Stay tuned for more updates on this highly anticipated supernatural body horror film.