Production Kicks Off in Japan on The Forest
Debi Moore
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While The Sea of Trees, Gus Van Sant’s new film, is getting put through the ringer in Cannes, Jason Zada’s The Forest, with the same “Suicide Forest” setting, just kicked off production so we’ll have another chance to venture into those spooky woods shortly, hopefully with a better result.
The Forest, a supernatural thriller starring Natalie Dormer (“Game of Thrones”) and Taylor Kinney (pictured below; “The Vampire Diaries,” “Chicago Fire”) and directed by Jason Zada (writer/director of Take This Lollipop, co-writer of The Houses October Built) based on an original idea by David S. Goyer, commenced principal photography today in Tokyo, Japan, and in the environs surrounding the legendary Aokigahara forest at the base of Mt. Fuji.
Additionally, AI Film joins the Lava Bear Films project as a co-financier and co-producer with Focus Features, which is releasing the film nationwide on January 8, 2016. Good Universe continues international sales on the project at this year’s Cannes market. Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions previously acquired rights in multiple overseas territories including Australia, Spain, Eastern Europe, and all of Asia outside of Japan.
Sarah Cornwell and Nick Antosca wrote the script of The Forest, which is produced by Lava Bear Films and Goyer under his Phantom Four banner. Len Blavatnik, Aviv Giladi, and Lawrence Bender serve as executive producers for AI Film. Tory Metzger, President of Lava Bear, is overseeing the production.
“We are proud to see this film going into production and fortunate to have AI Film join us on the film,” said Lava Bear head David Linde. “The team both in front of and behind the camera promises to deliver a well-crafted thriller designed to engage audiences all over the world.”
AI Film CEO and executive producer Aviv Giladi says, “We are thrilled to be working with David Linde’s Lava Bear and Focus Features on this film, who have brought on board a great cast and creative team which is already attracting the attention of international distribution.”
Synopsis:
In the Aokigahara forest at the base of Mt. Fuji, a young American woman goes in search of her twin sister, who has mysteriously disappeared. Despite everyone’s warnings to “stay on the path,” Sara enters the forest determined to discover the truth about her sister’s fate, only to be confronted by the angry and tormented souls of the dead who prey on anyone who wanders into the forest.
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