2024’s giving us two films about imaginary friends. IF, from writer/director John Krasinski, is light and fluffy, with Ryan Reynolds starring and Steve Carell voicing an imaginary friend. On the opposite end of the imaginary friend spectrum is Lionsgate’s Imaginary. The trailer shows a young girl’s cute stuffed teddy bear wants to be her forever friend, à la Chucky.
Imaginary stars DeWanda Wise (Jurassic World Dominion), Tom Payne (Prodigal Son), Taegen Burns (The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers), and Pyper Braun (Erin & Aaron). Veronica Falcon (A Million Miles Away) and Betty Buckley (Preacher) also star.
“From Blumhouse, the genre-defining masterminds behind Five Nights at Freddy’s and M3GAN, comes an original horror film that taps into the innocence of imaginary friends – and begs the question: Are they really figments of childhood imagination or is something more terrifying lying just beneath?” reads Lionsgate’s synopsis. “When Jessica (Wise) moves back into her childhood home with her family, her youngest stepdaughter Alice (Braun) develops an eerie attachment to a stuffed bear named Chauncey she finds in the basement. Alice starts playing games with Chauncey that begin playful and become increasingly sinister.
As Alice’s behavior becomes more and more concerning, Jessica intervenes only to realize Chauncey is much more than the stuffed toy bear she believed him to be.”
Jeff Wadlow (Fantasy Island), Greg Erb, and Jason Oremland wrote the screenplay, with Wadlow directing. Wadlow also serves as producer along with Jason Blum.
Commenting on his film, Wadlow stated: “Not all imaginary friends are friendly… at least that’s what the characters at the heart of Imaginary are about to find out. I love making films that play with the audience’s perception of what is real and what is not, so a horror movie that explores the frightening possibilities of imaginary friends was the perfect sandbox for me to play in.
I think the movie we made is filled with unexpected twists, big scares, and above all else, a ton of thrilling fun. DeWanda, Pyper, and Taegen, the characters at the center of our story, are not only believable as a blended family but a blast to watch as the tale unfolds. I think audiences are going to love watching them go toe to toe with Chauncey, our evil little bear. I promise, you’ll never look at a Teddy the same way again.”
Lionsgate’s set a March 8, 2024 theatrical release.
- Check Out the Bear-y Creepy Poster
- Chauncey Celebrates Leap Year Day
- Review of Imaginary – Fun, But Fails to Nail the Ending
