Margaret Qualley Eyed to Star in ‘Possession’ Remake From ‘Smile’ Director Parker Finn

Dread Central is hearing that Margaret Qualley is in talks to star in the upcoming Possession remake, with Smile franchise creator Parker Finn still attached to direct from a script he wrote. The project is now said to be housed by Paramount, the studio behind Smile and Smile 2. NPN was first to share the news, and we’ve confirmed its likeliness through reliable sources.

Both Qualley and Finn have become major forces in modern horror in recent years. Qualley earned widespread acclaim for her work in The Substance, the Academy Award–winning body horror film from Coralie Fargeat co-starring Demi Moore. Finn broke out with Paramount’s massively successful Smile franchise.

In 2024, THR reported that Finn is attached to write, direct, and produce the project through his Bad Feeling banner. Robert Pattinson was said to be producing, alongside Roy Lee of Vertigo Entertainment, who previously produced Zach Cregger’s breakout horror hit Barbarian and the Warner Bros. theatrical It films.

Although Pattinson was never officially attached to star, there were said to be early conversations around him potentially appearing in the film. This casting was never confirmed. Although, I gotta say, Qualley and Pattinson together would make for inspired choices.

Originally released in 1981, Possession was directed by Andrzej Żuławski and starred Isabelle Adjani and Sam Neill. The film follows a spy who returns home to find his wife exhibiting increasingly disturbing behavior. Adjani won Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival for her performance. To this day, it’s considered to be one of the greatest horror films ever made.