Jodie Comer and Harry Melling Star in Horror-Musical ‘Stuffed’
Jodie Comer, the acclaimed Emmy winner known for her role in Killing Eve, will star alongside Harry Melling, recognized for his performance in The Queen’s Gambit, in the upcoming musical horror-romance titled Stuffed. Production is set to begin on September 15, 2023, in South Wales.
The film revolves around Araminta, played by Comer, a taxidermist with a dark secret: her ambition to stuff a human specimen. She crosses paths with Bernie, portrayed by Melling, a man so consumed by the fear of being forgotten that he offers himself as a candidate for her chilling project. This unlikely partnership unfolds into a haunting romance, blending elements of horror and musical storytelling.
A Promising Debut for Theo Rhys
Stuffed marks the directorial debut of Theo Rhys, who co-wrote the screenplay with Joss Holden-Rea. The film expands on Rhys’ short film of the same name, which received critical acclaim, winning both the Midnight Jury and Audience Awards at SXSW 2021 and earning a BAFTA nomination in 2022. The feature is being launched for worldwide sales at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) market by Cornerstone.
The production team includes notable figures such as producer Sam Ritzenberg and Dimitra Tsingou, alongside Myles Payne and Hayley Williams from Agile Films. Danny Roberts, Jackie Langelier, and H.S. Naji represent Fresh Fish Films, with Adam Knopf as the Welsh co-producer.
A Star-Studded Creative Team
The film boasts a talented crew, including cinematographer Wyatt Garfield, Oscar-winning editor Chris Dickens from Slumdog Millionaire, and production designer Beck Rainford, known for Apollo 13: Survival. The costume design will be overseen by Holly Rebecca of His House, while Kat Morgan will handle hair and makeup, and Paul Paragon will be the production sound mixer.
Original music and lyrics for Stuffed are crafted by Holden-Rea, with Sarah Bridge from Bridgerton serving as music supervisor. The vocal direction is managed by Eoin Mallon, and John Warhurst, an Oscar winner for Bohemian Rhapsody, is the executive music producer.
Developed with support from the British Film Institute (BFI), the film is produced by Agile Films, funded by Fresh Fish Films, the BFI, and FFilm Cymru Wales, along with Calculus Media.
Executive producers include David Staniland from Agile Films, Sara Schuster from Fresh Fish Films, Louise Ortega from the BFI, and representatives from Ffilm Cymru Wales and Calculus Media.
Jackie Langelier, H.S. Naji, and Danny Roberts from Fresh Fish Films expressed their enthusiasm for collaborating with Rhys, stating, “We’re thrilled to partner with Theo on his debut feature, Stuffed, which is a musical that is equal parts twisted and audacious.”
Louise Ortega, the BFI’s Senior Production and Development Executive, added, “We’ve been excited by Theo and Joss’s unique vision for Stuffed from the moment we read it and were immediately compelled by its originality and boldness.”
Comer is represented by Independent Talent, WME, and Johnson Shapiro, while Melling is managed by Curtis Brown Group, CAA, and Goodman, Genow. Rhys is represented by Independent Talent Group and Entertainment 360.
As production approaches, the film promises to deliver a distinctive blend of horror and musical elements, with a narrative that is both unsettling and emotionally resonant.
