Michael Shannon, Margaret Qualley & Drew Starkey Headline Southern Gothic Horror ‘King Snake’

Michael Shannon (The Shape of Water, Take Shelter), Margaret Qualley (The Substance), and Drew Starkey (Hellraiser, Queer) are set to star in King Snake, the new Southern Gothic horror from Jeff Nichols (Take Shelter), Deadline reports.

Qualley and Starkey play a couple who inherit a rural Arkansas farm, where they must confront both physical and metaphysical demons tied to its dark legacy. The film promises a collision of real-world struggles with otherworldly forces, blending myth and terror into a chilling narrative.

Shannon’s role remains under wraps, though he previously collaborated with Nichols on Take Shelter and the sci-fi thriller Midnight Special, hinting at a strong creative reunion.

FilmNation is financing King Snake and handling international sales at the American Film Market. “Jeff is a singular filmmaker, and King Snake will bewitch and enthrall audiences around the world with a startling new vision of the supernatural forces that hover just beyond our everyday perceptions,” said FilmNation CEO Glen Basner.

The film is produced by Jeff Nichols, Brian Kavanaugh-Jones, and Sarah Green, in association with Range Media Partners.

Fans can expect more updates as King Snake progresses toward release.