Keanu Reeves, Jena Malone Join The Neon Demon

The cast of Nicolas Winding Refn’s upcoming horror film, The Neon Demon, continues to intrigue with the arrival of four new castings that is certain to grab attention: Keanu Reeves, Christina Hendricks, Jena Malone, and Bella Heathcote will all be joining the film.

As reported in Variety, the actors will collaborate with Elle Fanning and Abbey Lee in a film that is posited as a female-driven horror film in the world of fashion and decadence. Reeves himself is showcasing a career revival as of late after last year’s well received shoot ‘em up John Wick, which may be getting a sequel, and his upcoming Eli Roth film, Knock Knock.

Of course Malone is also seeing her star rise with mainstream success in the last two Hunger Games films, and she is scheduled to appear again in this November’s final entry, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2. Fans will also be keeping an eye on her because she is expected to appear in Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice in an unconfirmed role (but there is a good chance that it’s as a new Robin).

Heathcote has appeared in Tim Burton’s Dark Shadows and is starring as the eldest Bennet sister in the upcoming Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.

Refn, who also directed the Pusher trilogy, broke into Hollywood in a big way with Drive, which I would argue is as much an urban western as it is a nihilistic noir. A haunting film, also set in LA, the picture had a pivotal role for Hendricks in it. She joins Refn in this dreamy world again while working from a script by Mary Laws, the first-time screenwriter of The Neon Demon. Refn is also the director of the doubly fantastic and morbid Bronson and Valhalla Rising.

Refn has previously described the film as, ““One morning, I woke and realized I was both surrounded and dominated by women,” Refn said. “Strangely, a sudden urge was planted in me to make a horror film about vicious beauty.”

The Neon Demon begins shooting next month with a 2016 release date in mind.