Melissa Barrera, Nicholas Hoult to Star in Horror Dating Show ‘The One’ – The Hollywood Reporter
Melissa Barrera, the star of the recent hit movie Scream resume, set to the team of The Onedescribed as an “erotic nightmare” set within the confines of the reality dating show, which Riley Keough is about to produce.
The film, from writer-director duo Kevin Armento and Jaki Bradley, will see Barrera (in the upcoming projects also Your Monster and The Cooperation) stars alongside Nicolas Hoult (Your Majesty, to come Nosferatu for Robert Eggers and Clint Eastwood’s jury #2) and Lana Condor (To all the Boys I’ve loved before, Ruby Gillman: Teenage Kraken).
The One follows Taylor (Barrera), who makes a last ditch effort to find love by becoming a contestant on a reality dating show. Now down to just herself and two other women competing to win Mason’s (Hoult) heart, Taylor begins to feel that the show’s technique is wearing thin, and the game is getting awfully real. . Amidst the idyllic beachside setting, fairytale dates and ever-flowing champagne, the pursuit turns to obsession and conflict turns to philosophy while reality in itself becomes obscure. According to the description of the film, The One which is a “horrific thriller about the romantic and psychological warfare waged by our popular entertainment – and also raises the question … are we, the viewers, complicated? “
Along with starring, Hoult will also produce alongside Whitaker Lader through their production company Dead Duck Films which has a first-run TV deal with MRC TV and Civic Center Media. Keough also produces with Gina Gammell through their production company Felix Culpa, following their directorial debut last year with War Ponywhich won the Camera D’Or at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival. HanWay Films is handling worldwide sales, with WME Independent and UTA co-producing the film for North America.
“We’ve been dreaming about this project for years, and we’re thrilled to bring it to life now with our true dream team,” said Armento and Jaki Bradley. “Nick, Melissa, Riley and Lana is some of the most exciting talent around, and their passion for this film – shared by our incredible production – makes us even more eager to make this nightmare a reality.
Hoult and Lader said: “We were immediately drawn to this project which we think will appeal equally to reality TV junkies and those who think it’s a humanitarian crack. Jaki & Kevin’s script and vision promise a wild and dark film that will make audiences cringe, laugh, and question their own complicity.”
Gabrielle Stewart, CEO of HanWay Films, reported The One like the “an original, dynamic and terrifying exploration of the horror that lies deep within the intimacy of one of the world’s most popular TV formats.”
Barrera is repped by WME, Sugar23, attorneys Tara Kole and Danny Passman, and Imprint PR. Keough is repped by CAA, Hansen Jacobson Teller, and The Lede Company. Condor is repped by CAA, Goodman Genow Schenkman, and Persona PR. Hoult is repped by UTA, 42, Felker Toczek, and Relevant PR. Bradley & Armento are repped by WME, Kaplan/Perrone, and Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz.
