Horror aficionados, get ready to witness a spine-tingling spectacle as acclaimed director Christopher Smith, known for his work on films such as “Consecration,” “Black Death,” “Triangle,” and “Severance,” prepares to take us on a hair-raising journey to “Spider Island.” This intriguing project was officially announced by Dave Bishop, the CEO of Protagonist Pictures.

“Spider Island” revolves around a group of social media influencers who embark on an adventure to attend the grand opening of a luxurious resort on a picturesque island. However, their idyllic getaway takes a sinister turn when they find themselves sharing the island with a deadly and horrifying arachnid population.

The screenplay for this chilling comedy-horror venture is the collaborative work of Christopher Jolley, acclaimed for “The Price We Pay,” and David Quantick, known for his contributions to HBO’s “Veep” and “The Thick of It.” Vertigo Films is set to produce the film, while Protagonist Pictures is tasked with handling worldwide distribution rights, launching the sales process in anticipation of the forthcoming American Film Market.

While the precise nature of these deadly spiders remains shrouded in mystery, one thing is certain – they will come to life through state-of-the-art visual effects (VFX). AUTOMATIK VFX, the highly-regarded visual effects studio known for its work on projects like “Monsters Dark Continent,” “Game of Thrones,” “Doctor Who,” and “The Wheel Of Time,” is entrusted with bringing these nightmarish creatures to the screen. Seb Barker, recognized for his work on Amazon Studio’s “The Wheel of Time” and as a BAFTA nominee for “The Girl With All the Gifts,” will assume the role of VFX supervisor.

Director Christopher Smith expressed his enthusiasm for the project, stating, “For a while now, I’ve been searching for the perfect project to create another horror that strikes a balance between laughs and screams, with the potential to truly stand out. The script for ‘Spider Island’ checks all the boxes, and I can’t wait to bring the audiences on that rollercoaster with me!”

Protagonist’s CEO, Dave Bishop, also shared his excitement, saying, “We couldn’t be more excited to be partnering with world-class distributors on this wild concept straight from the minds of some of the best genre creatives in the industry. Christopher’s remarkable ability to blend humor and terror will undoubtedly provide the perfect movie experience for horror-comedy enthusiasts around the world. We cannot wait to see ‘Spider Island’ come to life… metaphorically, that is.”

Co-founder of Vertigo Films, Allan Niblo, added, “We are thrilled to be working with Chris and serving up equal measures of scares and laughs all set on a magically exotic island. It will be a cinematic feast for all the senses!”

The production is scheduled to commence early next year in the stunning locale of Mauritius, promising a cinematic adventure that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats.