MTV’s Movie & TV Honors winner Emma Roberts, famed for her roles in American Horror Story, is set to star in A Body in the Woods. Director and writer Stephen Cognetti (Hell House) will lead the upcoming “nightmarish folklore tale,” which enters production this September.
Producer Dave Caplan, whose genre credits include Longlegs and The Monkey, is attached to A Body in the Woods. The project also represents the inaugural feature from newly formed U.S. sales company Manifest Pictures, spearheaded by Yvette Zhuang and Zach Glueck. Pre-sales are set to launch this week at the European Film Market in Berlin, marking the company’s official entry into the international marketplace
Born on February 10, 1991, Emma Roberts has built a multifaceted career as an actress, producer, and singer first captured widespread attention as Addie Singer in Nickelodeon’s hit teen comedy Unfabulous (2004–2007). Her performance not only resonated with young audiences but also earned her multiple nods from the Teen Choice Awards and Young Artist Awards, cementing her place as one of the era’s rising stars. the daughter of actor Eric Roberts and the niece of Academy Award-winner Julia Roberts. She is currently engaged to actor Cody John as of July 2024
Roberts reinvented herself as a genre powerhouse, carving out a reputation as a modern “Scream Queen.” She delivered standout performances in American Horror Story, most memorably as the sharp-tongued Madison Montgomery and headlined Scream Queens as the delightfully wicked Chanel Oberlin. These roles solidified her status as a defining face of contemporary horror and dark comedy
Dave Caplan noted, “Stephen has consistently proven he can create terrifying, elevated immersive horror experiences. With Emma in the lead, A Body in the Woods is an undeniable package.”
Cognetti stated, “Emma brings an intelligence and emotional fearlessness that elevates everything she touches. “She understands horror on a cellular level—how to balance vulnerability, strength, and terror. My goal with A Body in the Woods is to deliver an elevated horror film that tests the limits of fear—not just for our lead character, but for the audience sitting in the dark with her. I want people to leave the theater unsettled, questioning what they saw, and feeling like they survived something.”
