SECOND UPDATE: The third and final wave of Fantastic Fest programming has been unveiled, and it includes the preiere of Tenacious D‘s new animated show Post-Apocalypto followed by a gig by the band. Bad Times at the El Royale — which stars Chris Hemsworth, Jeff Bridges, Jon Hamm and Dakota Johnson — is the Fantastic closing night film. While the likes of The Man Who Killed Don Quixote, Under the Silver Lake, Destroyer and Nicolas Cage’s new one Between Worlds will be playing at the fest.
FIRST UPDATE: The second wave of Fantastic Fest programming has been announced. And the celebration of all things genre will start with a bang thanks to a screening of the new Halloween on opening night. If that weren’t enough, the film’s star Jamie Lee Curtis will also be in attendance.
Hold the Dark — Jeremy Saulnier’s follow-up to Blue Ruin and Green Room — will also screen at the fest. Starring Jeffrey Wright and Alexander Skarsgard, the film is a psychological thriller that pits man against nature.
To read the full second wave line-up, head here.
ORIGINAL STORY: Sci-fi horror Overlord is to receive its world premiere at Fantastic Fest in September. The film — which is produced by J.J. Abrams — focusses on a battalion of U.S. paratroopers discovering a secret lab in Nazi-occupied France. Where supernatural experiments have spawned something quite terrible.
The eagerly anticipated thriller will play during the world-famous festival, which runs from September 20-27 in Austin Texas, and revolves around features and shorts that celebrate both the weird and wonderful.
Apostle — Gareth Evans’ follow-up to The Raid movies — will also debut at the festival. A film that follows Dan Stevens’ efforts to infiltrate the cult that is holding his sister hostage. With Michael Sheen playing the leader of said cult.
And if you’re a fan of the Raid flicks, star Iko Uwais will be appearing in action-thriller The Night Comes For Us, about a gangland turf war in Jakarta.
The festival will also be shining a light on female genre filmmakers, as well as the ‘Korean Quota Quickies’ — little-seen features that were crafted during the 1970s when local Korean productions were made to match foreign imports.
More movies, events and guests will be announced in the next few weeks, while full details can be found at the official site. And if you want to know what all the fuss is about, FANDOM explains why Fantastic Fest is the best below…