Shudder, AMC Networks’ premier streaming service for horror, thrillers, and supernatural content, has acquired North American, UK, and ANZ rights to The Ugly Stepsister, an innovative and twisted reimagining of the Cinderella story. The highly anticipated feature debut from Norwegian writer-director Emilie Blichfeldt is set to open the Midnight Section at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival before its release on Shudder later in the year.
Starring Lea Myren, Thea Sofie Loch Næss, and Ane Dahl Torp, The Ugly Stepsister delves into a dark, chilling narrative of ambition and sacrifice. In a kingdom where beauty reigns supreme, Elvira is determined to win the prince’s heart, facing off against the radiant Agnes in a haunting and cutthroat competition to become the belle of the ball.
“I am beyond thrilled to bring The Ugly Stepsister to Sundance and to share it with a wider audience alongside my incredible team and in partnership with Shudder,” said director Emilie Blichfeldt. “This beauty-horror twist on Cinderella draws inspiration from The Brothers Grimm version of the tale and my own experiences with body image struggles. I hope it provokes empathy, discomfort, and deeper reflection on our collective obsession with beauty.”
Emily Gotto, Shudder’s SVP of Acquisitions and Production, praised the project: “The Ugly Stepsister flips the classic fairytale on its head, offering an unflinching blend of shocking burlesque and body horror. Emilie Blichfeldt’s debut is an extraordinary achievement, and we’re proud to showcase her work on Shudder.”
Produced in Norway by Maria Ekerhovd for Mer Film (The Innocents, War Sailor), the film is co-produced by an impressive international team, including Lizette Jonjic (Zentropa Sweden), Mariusz Włodarski (Lava Films, Poland), and Theis Nørgaard (Motor, Denmark). The production also benefits from contributions by Zefyr, Film i Väst, and various European film institutes, with backing from organizations such as the Norwegian Film Institute, Eurimages, and Nordisk Film & TV Fond.
The deal was negotiated by Emily Gotto for Shudder and Alexandre Moreau, Head of Sales at Memento International, on behalf of the filmmakers.
The Ugly Stepsister will make its worldwide streaming debut on Shudder in 2025 following its Sundance premiere.
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