The Curse of Downer's Grove

Radha Mitchell's daughter, Penelope, is hitting the genre scene on two fronts.  Tomorrow, you'll be able to see her in Hemlock Grove, debuting on Netflix, and currently, she's shooting The Curse of Downer's Grove, co-written by American Psycho's Bret Easton Ellis.

The latter - directed by Derick Martini - concerns a small midwestern town gripped by a curse that claims the life of one high school senior every year. Chrissie Swanson (Bela Heathcote) fears she is the next victim of The Curse of Downers Grove.

We spoke to Mitchell recently who gave us an update on the film.

The Curse of Downer's Grove - co-written by American Psycho's Bret Easton Ellis - is rolling cameras shortly and a new cast member has signed up for the project.  To date, we know that Lucas Till, Penelope Mitchell, Kevin Zegers and Bella Heatcote star.

The film - directed by Derick Martini - concerns a small midwestern town gripped by a curse that claims the life of one high school senior every year. Chrissie Swanson (Heathcote) fears she is the next victim of The Curse of Downers Grove.

Let's hit you with a barrage of casting news this morning, shall we?  We'll start with The Sixth Gun, a pilot in the works at NBC.  Laura Ramsey (The Ruins) has joined the cast as a young farmer's daughter.  

Based on the Oni comic book, the proposed series is set "during the darkest days of the Civil War when wicked cutthroats came into possession of six pistols of otherworldly power. In time the Sixth Gun, the most dangerous of the weapons, vanished. When the gun surfaces in the hands of an innocent girl, dark forces reawaken. Vile men thought long dead set their sights on retrieving the gun and killing the girl. Only Drake Sinclair, a gunfighter with a shadowy past, stands in their way."

Award-winning indie filmmaker Derick Martini (Lymelife with Alec Baldwin and Cynthia Nixon) has teamed up with Brett Easton Ellis on the new psychological thriller The Curse of Downers Grove. The film, currently in development, will begin production in spring of this year. Martini will direct.

Way back in 2010, we received word that Bret Easton Ellis was scripting an adaptation of Michael Hornberg's novel "Downer's Grove."  

The story, set at a seemingly "cursed" high school where a senior dies before the end of each school year, was to be directed by Prom Night's Nelson McCormick and star Hayden Panettiere, Nikki Reed and Rebecca De Mornay.

That was in 2010.  Variety now reports Derek Martini is directing The Curse of Downer's Grove from a script he's sharing co-writing credit and a new cast is being attached.