Jason Isaacs is heading into gothic horror territory, joining Maika Monroe (Longlegs) and Thomasin McKenzie (Last Night in Soho) in the upcoming thriller Victorian Psycho. The project, directed by Zachary Wigon (Sanctuary) and based on Virginia Feito’s novel of the same name, is gearing up for production in August and is currently making the rounds at the Cannes market.
Set in the sprawling, shadow-soaked halls of Ensor House, the story follows Winifred Notty (played by Monroe), a seemingly proper governess hired to teach a pair of children etiquette and family history. Naturally, things are not what they seem—especially when staff members begin mysteriously vanishing and the estate’s owners grow suspicious of their increasingly unsettling new employee. Isaacs will portray Mr. John Pounds, the estate’s enigmatic master, who starts to suspect that this refined tutor might be hiding something far more sinister than an outdated curriculum.
McKenzie joins the cast in a key role that adds another layer to what could be a stylish psychological slow-burn. The screenplay, adapted by Feito herself, is expected to remain true to the novel’s dark wit and creeping tension.
Isaacs, no stranger to ominous authority figures, was recently seen in HBO’s The White Lotus season 3. His past work includes The Death of Stalin, Star Trek: Discovery, Black Hawk Down, and of course, his unforgettable turn as Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter films.
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Director Wigon, making his third feature following 2014 indie The Heart Machine and 2022 psychological thriller Sanctuary, said of the casting, “Jason depicts the nuances of human psychology and behavior with enormous precision. I’m thrilled for him to be joining Victorian Psycho – it’ll be fascinating to watch him bring to life the enigmatic and mercurial owner of Ensor House, Mr. John Pounds.”
The film is being produced by Dan Kagan (Longlegs) under the Traffic. banner, along with Sébastien Raybaud (Greenland: Migration) for Anton and Wigon. Nick Shumaker, Bard Dorros, and Feito are executive producing. Anton is also financing and repping international sales, with U.S. rights handled by Anton, UTA Independent Film Group, and CAA Media Finance.
Source: Deadline
