Horror Thriller ‘CURS>R,’ Starring Asa Butterfield, Iola Evans, Eddie Marsan, Joins Anton’s Cannes Slate

Producer and financier Anton, whose credits include “Greenland,” “His Dark Materials” and “The Night House,” has announced that its latest production, the feature film “CURS>R,” has wrapped principal photography in the U.K. A dark twist on the ‘80s gaming obsession, the horror thriller stars Asa Butterfield (“Sex Education,” “Greed,” “Hugo”), Iola Evans (“The 100,” “Carnival Row”) and Eddie Marsan (“Sherlock Holmes,” “The Gentlemen,” “Happy Go Lucky”).

Anton will oversee world sales and introduce the project to buyers at the upcoming Cannes virtual market later this month, in association with Endeavor Content, which is co-representing the U.S.

The film also features horror maestro Robert Englund, who played Freddy Krueger in “A Nightmare on Elm Street.” Rounding out the cast is Angela Griffin (“The Hollow,” “White Lines,” “Harlots”), Kate Fleetwood (“Beirut,” “Deliverers,” “Star Wars: Episode VII”), Ryan Gage (“The Hobbit,” “The Musketeers,” “Endeavor),” and Joe Bolland (“The Trial of Christine Keeler”).

In pursuit of an unclaimed $125,000 prize, a broke college dropout (Evans) decides to play an obscure, 1980s survival computer game. But the game curses her, and she’s faced with dangerous choices and reality-warping challenges. After a series of unexpectedly terrifying moments, she realizes she’s no longer playing for the money, but for her life. The game locks her into an inescapable cycle of mind-bending horror.

Produced by Anton’s Sebastien Raybaud and John Zois alongside Stigma Films’ Matthew James Wilkinson (“Yesterday,” “Days of the Bagnold Summer,” “Amulet”), “CURS>R” is directed by Toby Meakins (“Breathe,” “Floor 9.5”) and written by Simon Allen (“The Watch,” “Das Boot,” “The Musketeers”). Simon Allen, Liza Glucoft and Nick Angel (“Yesterday,” “Days of the Bagnold Summer”) are executive producers. Holly Hubsher is also overseeing the project on behalf of Anton. Shot on location in London, the film participated in the U.K. government’s Film and TV Production Restart Scheme.

Zois stated: “Toby is a visionary in the horror space with an innate genius for both original storytelling and the stark, eerie palates he creates on screen. Simon, Toby and Matt have worked to create something uniquely thrilling for horror fans.”

Wilkinson added: “Incredibly excited to be working on such an original and terrifying concept as ‘CURS>R’ – taking modern horror and twisting it to pit our hero against 80s nostalgia.”

Butterfield made his on-screen debut at the age of eight in “After Thomas” in 2006. In 2007 he featured in “Son of Rambow” alongside Will Poulter. The following year he starred in “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas,” which earned him a nomination for the British Independent Film Award’s Most Promising Newcomer. In 2011, he starred in Martin Scorsese’s “Hugo” and in 2015, he had a leading role in James Graham’s “A Brilliant Young Mind.”

Butterfield’s credits also include “Greed,” “Slaughterhouse Rulez,” “Time Freak,” “Then Came You,” “Journey’s End,” “The Space Between Us,” “Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children,” “Ender’s Game,” “The Wolfman,” “Nanny McPhee Returns” and “Merlin.” He is best known globally for his leading role as Otis Milburn in the Netflix series “Sex Education.”

He is represented by Jane Epstein at Independent Talent Group and Andrea Weintraub and Tracy Brennan at CAA.

Evans trained at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and had her debut in the European premiere of Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ “An Octoroon” at the Orange Tree Theatre, transferring to London’s National Theatre to critical acclaim. Evans recently portrayed Ryma in Amazon Prime’s “Carnival Row.” She has guest starred in top TV shows including ITV’s “Vera” and the CW’s “The 100.” Iola has recently completed U.K. horror “The Origin,” the feature film directing debut by Andrew Cumming and produced by Oliver Kassman.

Evans is represented by Insight Management & Production and Circle of Confusion.

Marsan is the recipient of two BIFA Awards for his roles in Mike Leigh’s features “Vera Drake” and “Happy Go Lucky.” His roles range from independent films including “Tyrannosaur,” “Still Life,” “World’s End” and “White Boy Rick” to blockbuster features such as the “Sherlock Holmes” franchise, “Gangs of New York,” “V For Vendetta,” “Mission Impossible 3,” “Deadpool” and “Atomic Blonde.”

His multiple television credits include the BBC television adaptations “Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell,” “Little Dorrit,” “Red Riding” and “Southcliffe,” and a starring role in Showtime’s TV series “Ray Donovan.” Marsan recently starred in Adam McKay’s “Vice,” Guy Ritchie’s “The Gentleman” and “Hobbs and Shaw.” Upcoming projects include the four-part BBC thriller “Ridley Road,” “The Pact,” “The Power” and Ritchie’s “Wrath of Man.”

Marsan is represented by Alex Irwin with Markham Frogatt & Irwin and UTA.

Subscribe to Variety Newsletters and Email Alerts!