Rupert Friend has been announced as the latest addition to the cast of the upcoming sci-fi/horror film Companion, according to Deadline. The movie is being produced by Zach Cregger, known for directing Barbarian. Drew Hancock, who wrote the script, will be making his directorial debut with Companion.

Friend joins a talented ensemble cast that includes Sophie Thatcher, Harvey Guillén, Lukas Gage, Megan Suri, and Jack Quaid. Plot details for Companion are being kept under wraps for now.

Recently, Rupert Friend starred in William Brent Bell’s 2021 horror film Separation, playing the role of Jeff, a single father dealing with supernatural occurrences. He is currently appearing in Wes Anderson’s Asteroid City and is set to feature in the upcoming action film Canary Black in 2024.

Drew Hancock, known for his work on comedy series like “Suburgatory,” “Faking It,” and “My Dead Ex,” will be making a transition into the horror genre with Companion. It remains to be seen whether he will follow Cregger’s footsteps and focus solely on horror or infuse some comedy elements into the film.

According to Deadline, Companion was acquired by New Line Cinema in a competitive bidding war after the success of Zach Cregger’s horror film Weapons. The production team includes Roy Lee and Raphael Margules & J.D. Lifshitz from Vertigo, as well as Miri Yoon. Tracy Rosenblum from BoulderLight and Andrew Childs from Vertigo will serve as executive producers.

Additionally, New Line has entered into a first-look deal with BoulderLight Pictures, the producers of Barbarian, aiming to develop high-concept genre movies. This collaboration signals a new wave of genre entertainment for New Line, with BoulderLight expected to make a significant impact in the industry in the coming year.