For horror fans who grew up on Italian genre cinema, this one is going to spark some strong feelings. Lucio Fulci’s 1981 cult classic The Beyond is being reimagined for a new generation, in a brand-new partnership between Hangtime International Pictures and Severin Films.
A new partnership built around genre remakes
Announced on October 7, Hangtime and Severin have teamed up to secure remake rights to a selection of genre films, with plans to release them across theatrical, streaming and physical media. The two companies expect to roll out several reboots over the next two years, and The Beyond is leading their horror slate.
Hangtime brings serious studio and prestige-film credentials to the table, while Severin has spent two decades as one of the most respected names in cult film restoration, with a catalogue that already includes Fulci’s work.
Why lead with Fulci’s The Beyond?
Hangtime Co-CEO Frank Murray framed the project as a chance for an established director to put a contemporary spin on the film and turn it into a classic of “experiential horror.” This is fitting for a movie that has always been more about dread and atmosphere. He also pointed to the growing cultural weight of Fulci’s films.
And there’s a franchise angle, too. Murray singled out the sequel potential baked into Fulci’s loosely connected Gates of Hell films, which also include City of the Living Dead and The House by the Cemetery. In other words, if this remake lands, don’t be surprised to see more of that universe revisited.
Severin co-founder, president and CEO David Gregory emphasised the company’s long track record of treating genre films with respect for their originality and legacy. He sees reimagining these titles for a new audience as an opportunity for the wider genre community.
How the deal came together
The English-language remake rights to …E tu vivrai nel terrore! L’aldilà (the film’s original Italian title) were secured through Severin’s Italian correspondent Manlio Gomarasca and Claudia Marra, International Sales Manager at RTI Mediaset.
Marra said there’s already plenty of excitement around the project, and that finding passionate partners to bring the film to a new audience made this a strong way to begin.
Who’s behind it
Hangtime Films was founded by Frida Torresblanco and Frank Murray and operates out of London and New York, developing auteur-driven film, TV and documentary projects.
- Frida Torresblanco was a key producer on Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth, co-founded Esperanto Films with Alfonso Cuarón, and has produced films including Disobedience and The Assassination of Richard Nixon.
- Frank Murray previously ran scripted production for the UK, Australia, Canada and MENA at Amazon MGM Studios, overseeing series like The Devil’s Hour and The Power. He produced Paul Schrader’s First Reformed and has worked on titles including The Wrestler, 22 Jump Street and Young Adult.
- Jessica Malik, who leads development, is a BIFA-nominated producer and co-founder of Rebel Park Productions with Gemma Arterton, with credits including She Will, Daliland, Timestalker and Sky’s Funny Woman.
Severin Films, founded in 2006, is known for rescuing and restoring everything from arthouse favourites to the wildest corners of exploitation cinema on Blu-ray, 4K UHD and digital. Its catalogue spans Fulci, Argento, Jodorowsky, Russ Meyer and Jess Franco (affectionately dubbed the studio’s patron saint), alongside a deep bench of gialli, zombie films and Ozploitation. Severin has also produced acclaimed documentaries such as Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched: A History of Folk Horror and Lost Soul: The Doomed Journey of Richard Stanley’s Island of Dr. Moreau.
What’s next
No director, cast or release date has been announced yet. For now, what we know is that The Beyond is first in line, more reboots are planned over the next two years, and the people involved clearly see Fulci’s Gates of Hell as fertile ground.
Hangtime International Pictures and Severin Films have formed a strategic partnership to secure remake rights to select genre films for theatrical, streaming and physical media. The companies plan several reboots over the next two years, kicking off their horror slate with a reimagining of Lucio Fulci’s 1981 classic THE BEYOND.
“The impetus for this partnership was our shared commitment to fans of the genre and our desire to deliver for new horror audiences,” says Frank Murray, Co-CEO of Hangtime. “This is a rare opportunity for an established director to reimagine THE BEYOND, contemporize it as a classic of experiential horror and further the ever-growing cultural significance of Fulci’s work. We also love the built-in sequel opportunity afforded us by Fulci’s Gates of Hell universe. Frida Torresblanco, Co-CEO at Hangtime added: “Severin is the ideal partner, not just in helping us navigate the rights process but as a uniquely knowledgeable creative sounding board.”
“Severin Films has devoted two decades to restoring and releasing genre films with the utmost respect for their originality and ongoing legacy,” says David Gregory, co-founder, president and CEO of Severin Films. “Reimagining these classic titles for a new generation presents a unique opportunity for the genre community, and we look forward to what this partnership will bring forth.”
The deal was brokered by Severin’s Italian Correspondent Manlio Gomarasca and RTI Mediaset International Sales Manager Claudia Marra securing the English-language remake rights to …E TU VIVRAI NEL TERORRE! L’ALDILÀ (AKA: THE BEYOND) on behalf of Hangtime and Severin.
“We are very excited to see this remake project moving forward, and especially to have found such strong and passionate partners to bring this classic to a new audience,” says Marra. “There is already a great deal of excitement around the project, and we believe this is a fantastic way to start this new journey. We can’t wait to see it take shape and move forward together.”
