Bill Hader Is Making a Horror Movie (And I’m Convinced It Will Be a Masterpiece)

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Over the last ten years, there’s been an unexpected change in how genre films are made. It’s been a surprising and welcome development. In 2017, Jordan Peele, known for his comedy, reinvented himself with the horror film Get Out, which became a global success, won an Oscar, and established him as a leading new voice in the horror genre. He wasn’t alone in this shift; Zach Cregger, formerly of the comedy group Whitest Kids U’ Know, also found success directing the horror films Barbarian and Weapons.

Okay, horror fans, get ready! Bill Hader – yes, the brilliant mind behind Barry and former SNL star – is diving into the horror genre with a new film called They Know. He’s not just acting, he’s writing and directing! The story centers around a divorced dad who starts to worry his ex-wife’s new boyfriend is…off, and negatively impacting their kids. As someone who loved the dark humor and tight direction of Barry, I’m already incredibly hyped to see Hader take the reins again. Honestly, given his clear passion for horror, I think he’s poised to join the ranks of Jordan Peele and Mark Cregger as a comedic genius who absolutely gets scary.

Bill Hader Will Write, Direct, and Star in New Horror Movie They Know

Bill Hader mentioned in 2023, as the show Barry was finishing up, that he had written a horror movie script he hoped to star in. Last summer, he shared more details in an interview with A24, telling director Ari Aster that the film Eddington inspired him to revisit the script after a major producer rejected it for being overly dark and pessimistic.

After finishing the show Barry, I felt really vulnerable and put a lot of pressure on myself to figure out my next move. It wasn’t coming from anyone else, just my own insecurities, and it made me lose confidence in a project I was working on. I needed to step away from it for a while, but I knew I’d return to it eventually. Then, seeing what Eddington did gave me the encouragement I needed. He confidently pursued something I’d been discouraged from doing, and it inspired me to revisit my own project.

I’m really excited about Bill Hader’s new film, They Know, and it’s not just because of the hints he’s dropped about the script. He’s proven himself as an incredible director with Barry – three Directors Guild of America awards don’t lie! But what really gets me hyped is knowing how much Hader loves movies, especially horror. He’s not just a fan who shows up in IT: Chapter Two; he’s a true cinephile. He even hosted “Friday Night Spooklight” on Turner Classic Movies, where he got to share his passion and introduce some all-time classics like Horror of Dracula, Carnival of Souls, The Haunting, Dead of Night, A Bucket of Blood, and Night of the Living Dead. It’s clear this project is a labor of love for him.

Jordan Peele’s collaborator, Julian Hader, clearly understands both the technical side of filmmaking and the horror genre itself – he’s a dedicated fan. Considering the recent success of comedians directing horror films, this makes his upcoming movie, They Know, a highly anticipated and potentially unique entry into the genre. Fans are eagerly awaiting its release.

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2026-02-21 18:10