Bold headline: Paramount and 18hz are turning a short into a feature, fueling a new nightmare universe with The Littles.
But here’s where it gets controversial: a preemptive move to develop a horror short into a full-length feature can shape creative risk, control, and release timing in notable ways.
Paramount Pictures, in collaboration with Walter Hamada’s 18hz, has preemptively optioned The Littles, a fresh horror short written, directed, and produced by Andrew Duplessie, to develop as a feature. Duplessie, known for his work on American Horror Stories and as a bestselling author, will expand his role to writer-director for the project.
The Littles premiered at New York Comic Con to a sold-out crowd, with Violet McGraw among the attendees. The short centers on 11-year-old Juliet, who, after stubbing her toe on a loose floorboard, triggers a cascade of eerie, unexplained events. As Juliet investigates, she becomes drawn into a haunting, otherworldly experience that uncovers the hidden truths of her home and threatens to rewrite her reality.
The project blends live-action with stop-motion animation, featuring the stop-motion expertise of Anthony Scott (noted for The Nightmare Before Christmas). The cast also includes Janel Parrish (Pretty Little Liars) and Dominic Sherwood (Shadowhunters).
Duplessie shared with Deadline his excitement about expanding The Littles into a feature: “Partnering with 18hz to bring this story to life at feature length is exhilarating. Walter and Nick are genuine horror enthusiasts who immediately recognized the project’s potential and vision. Stop-motion has long captivated me, especially when fused with horror, and the response to the short has been deeply inspiring. I’m eager to work with 18hz to expand this universe and reveal what lurks beneath the floorboards to a broader audience.”
Duplessie is a filmmaker, author, and tech entrepreneur. His debut novel, Too Scared to Sleep, was acquired by HarperCollins and Warner Bros. and rose to bestseller lists at Barnes & Noble and Amazon. He began his writing career by sharing stories on Instagram, cultivating a large following, and later authored the viral piece “Mystery Dog,” which has surpassed 100 million views on YouTube. He is represented by Anonymous Content and attorney Miles Metcoff of Yorn, Levine, Barnes.
18hz’s ongoing production pact with Paramount continues, with its next release on the horizon: a Johannes Roberts horror feature titled Primate, set for January 9. Hamada, a former DC Films chief and New Line Production EVP, joined 18hz in November 2022 and has since produced New Line’s It films and Matt Reeves’ The Batman. Upcoming projects on the 18hz slate include an untitled horror film from director André Øvredal, as well as Familiar and Suffer Little Children from Caye Casas and Rodrigue Huart, respectively.
Would this expansion of a short into a feature risk diluting the original concept, or could it unlock a richer, more immersive universe for fans? Share your thoughts on the feasibility and potential impact of turning The Littles into a full-length film.
