A star-studded ensemble cast is set to bring H.G. Wells’s iconic tale The Island of Doctor Moreau to a new generation with a modern reimagining in the sci-fi thriller Eyes in the Trees. Headlined by two-time Academy Award winner Anthony Hopkins, the film features a talented lineup, including Golden Globe winner Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Ashley Greene, Thomas Kretschmann, Praya Lundberg, and Adam Ambruso.
Directed by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Timothy Woodward Jr. (Studio City, Til Death Do Us Part), Eyes in the Trees follows a group of journalists on an expedition to an isolated forest. Vince Henway (Meyers) and his ex-girlfriend and former protégé Channing Arneau (Greene) lead their crew into the mysterious Monkey Ko island, off the coast of Thailand—dubbed “The Island of Death” by locals. The island, shrouded in legends of abandoned government medical experiments and genetic manipulations conducted by the elusive Dr. Addis (Hopkins), quickly turns from a routine investigation to a terrifying fight for survival as the crew encounters unspeakable horrors beyond their wildest imaginings.
The film draws inspiration from Wells’s 1896 novel, but the story is given a fresh, chilling twist that is sure to captivate both fans of the original and newcomers alike. The screenplay has been adapted by B. Harrison Smith, Mike Manning, and Dominic Burns.
Produced by Daemon Hillin of Hillin Entertainment, Simon Williams of Ashland Hill, and Artisha Mann-Cooper of Artman Cooper Productions, Eyes in the Trees promises to be an unsettling, elevated-genre film. Manning also takes on a producer role.
Director Timothy Woodward Jr. shared his excitement for the project, saying, “It’s an incredible honor to work with Sir Anthony Hopkins and such a remarkable cast. The experience has been deeply inspiring, and I’m grateful for the opportunity. I can’t wait for audiences to experience this thrilling film shaped by such a talented team both in front of and behind the camera.”
Ashland Hill’s Managing Partner, Simon Williams, echoed Woodward Jr.’s enthusiasm, adding, “With its brilliant ensemble cast and Timothy’s unique vision, Eyes in the Trees is a bold, twisted film that reimagines a beloved classic in a terrifying new light. We are eager to introduce global audiences to this dark and imaginative retelling.”
Eyes in the Trees marks another chapter in the long history of adaptations of Wells’s The Island of Doctor Moreau. The 1996 version, directed by John Frankenheimer and Richard Stanley, starred Marlon Brando and Val Kilmer but was met with critical backlash and earned Brando a Razzie Award for his performance. The film is currently available for streaming on Roku and Apple TV.
As the anticipation for Eyes in the Trees builds, fans can expect a chilling adventure that brings the horrors of the original story into a modern context, with a powerhouse cast ready to deliver a memorable performance.
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