Renowned director Michael Chaves has made a significant mark in the horror genre with his feature directorial debut, the spine-chilling film The Curse of La Llorona. Following this, he has successfully helmed key entries in the Conjuring Universe, including The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, The Nun II, and the highly anticipated The Conjuring: Last Rites, which is set to hit theaters on September 5. This film is significant as it signifies the culmination of “phase one” of the Conjuring franchise. According to industry insider Jeff Sneider from The InSneider, Chaves is now venturing into new territory with a survival thriller titled Yeti, which marks his first project outside the realm of the Conjuring films.
Sneider has unveiled that the project Yeti was initially developed last year at Sony Pictures and Picturestart, where producer Jon Silk had established a first-look deal. However, following Silk’s transition to a film executive role at Netflix, the project has shifted from Sony to Netflix’s production slate. While it remains uncertain if Picturestart will continue to be involved as a producer, Sneider believes their participation is likely, given the collaborative nature of the industry.
While I would have loved to see this project inspire nostalgia for the classic Yeti films starring icons like Jean-Claude Van Damme or Steven Seagal, possibly even imagining a unique collaboration between the two, this project is entirely original and distinct from those previous ventures.
The screenplay for Yeti has been crafted by Peter Gaffney, who presents a thrilling narrative set deep within the mountains. As an avalanche uncovers an ancient, primal entity encased in glacial ice, the gripping story follows a father and his daughter as they battle for survival against a relentless predator adept at camouflaging itself in the snowy wilderness. Gaffney, known for his work on beloved animated series such as Rugrats, PAW Patrol, Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go, and Spidey and His Amazing Friends, has also demonstrated his writing prowess through the sale of a horror spec script titled Don’t Go Into the Water to Universal and 21 Laps. Moreover, he is currently developing a unique horror concept centered around killer wasps, titled Hivemind, for Thunder Road. Gaffney’s repertoire also includes scripting a retrospective special for the A Nightmare on Elm Street franchise, Slash & Burn: The Freddy Krueger Story, back in 1991.
Are you excited about the prospect of a thrilling Yeti survival film directed by Michael Chaves and produced by Netflix? We invite you to share your thoughts and expectations regarding this upcoming release by leaving a comment below. Your insights are valuable to us!
