{ "id": "epkzj7g4q6", "slug": "brides-2026-film", "title": "Brides (2026 film)", "updated": "2026-10-15", "topic_path": [ { "id": "culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture" }, { "id": "culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.horror", "label": "Horror films (individual works)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.horror" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.horror.gothic-horror-films", "label": "Gothic horror films", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.horror.gothic-horror-films" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.us.t2021.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.horror", "label": "United States · 2021 and later: Horror films (individual works)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.horror", "path": [ { "id": "geo.us", "label": "United States", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021", "label": "United States · 2021 and later", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.culture" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.culture.performance" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.horror", "label": "Horror films (individual works)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.horror" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Brides is an upcoming American gothic horror film written and directed by Chloe Okuno, starring Olivia Cooke as Sally Bishop, a woman stranded at a mysterious Italian villa in 1961.", "snippet": "Brides is an upcoming American gothic horror film written and directed by Chloe Okuno, starring Olivia Cooke as Sally Bishop, a woman stranded at a mysterious Italian villa in 1961.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.horror.gothic-horror-films", "markdown": "# Brides (2026 film)\n\n**Brides** is an upcoming American gothic horror film written and directed by Chloe Okuno and starring [Olivia Cooke](https://www.edgepedia.org/olivia-cooke) as Sally Bishop, a young American woman stranded in 1961 at a remote Northern Italian villa run by an enigmatic count and his household of \"deathless women\".[1](https://deadline.com/2025/05/olivia-cooke-brides-1236412055/) • [2](https://deadline.com/2025/10/brides-neon-chloe-okuno-adds-four-cast-1236594051/) The film draws on [Bram Stoker](https://www.edgepedia.org/bram-stoker)'s *Dracula* and is produced by Likely Story, with Neon releasing it theatrically in North America and Focus International handling international distribution.[2](https://deadline.com/2025/10/brides-neon-chloe-okuno-adds-four-cast-1236594051/) • [4](https://www.joblo.com/brides-cast/) Production began in Budapest in October 2025.[2](https://deadline.com/2025/10/brides-neon-chloe-okuno-adds-four-cast-1236594051/)\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Title, genre | *Brides*, a gothic horror film drawing on Bram Stoker's *Dracula*[4](https://www.joblo.com/brides-cast/) |\n| Writer/director | Chloe Okuno, whose debut feature was *Watcher* (2022)[1](https://deadline.com/2025/05/olivia-cooke-brides-1236412055/) |\n| Lead | Olivia Cooke as Sally Bishop, replacing Maika Monroe in May 2025[1](https://deadline.com/2025/05/olivia-cooke-brides-1236412055/) |\n| Setting | Northern Italy, 1961[2](https://deadline.com/2025/10/brides-neon-chloe-okuno-adds-four-cast-1236594051/) |\n| Producers | Anthony Bregman, Stefanie Azpiazu, and Greg Zuk for Likely Story; financing by Manor Kill Media[2](https://deadline.com/2025/10/brides-neon-chloe-okuno-adds-four-cast-1236594051/) |\n| Distribution | Neon (North American theatrical), Focus International (international), FilmNation in some territories[1](https://deadline.com/2025/05/olivia-cooke-brides-1236412055/) • [2](https://deadline.com/2025/10/brides-neon-chloe-okuno-adds-four-cast-1236594051/) |\n| Filming | Commenced October 2025 in Budapest, Hungary[2](https://deadline.com/2025/10/brides-neon-chloe-okuno-adds-four-cast-1236594051/) |\n| Release | FilmDB lists a specific date of 7/24/2026[5](https://filmdb.co.uk/titles/738552/brides) |\n\n## Premise and genre\n\nThe story takes place in [Northern Italy](https://www.edgepedia.org/northern-italy) in 1961. Sally Bishop and her husband travel to the region and become stranded at a remote villa run by the mysterious Vova, who takes a peculiar interest in Sally and presides over a household of beautiful, deathless women and their caretaker.[1](https://deadline.com/2025/05/olivia-cooke-brides-1236412055/) • [2](https://deadline.com/2025/10/brides-neon-chloe-okuno-adds-four-cast-1236594051/) The film is a vampire story in which Sally's feminist ideals clash with the count and his group of vampire brides.[3](https://theplaylist.net/brides-neon-olivia-cooke-neon-vampire-movie-horror-chloe-okuno-20250528/)\n\nOkuno scripted the film with direct inspiration from Bram Stoker's novel *Dracula*.[4](https://www.joblo.com/brides-cast/)\n\n## Cast and characters\n\nOlivia Cooke stars as Sally Bishop.[1](https://deadline.com/2025/05/olivia-cooke-brides-1236412055/) On October 23, 2025, four actors were announced as joining the cast as production began: [Harry Lawtey](https://www.edgepedia.org/harry-lawtey) as Vova, the villa's owner; [Jodie Turner-Smith](https://www.edgepedia.org/jodie-turner-smith) and [Viola Prettejohn](https://www.edgepedia.org/viola-prettejohn) as the deathless women; and Burn Gorman as their caretaker. Wilf Scolding was also announced as part of the cast.[2](https://deadline.com/2025/10/brides-neon-chloe-okuno-adds-four-cast-1236594051/)\n\nGorman's casting is a reunion: he played what Deadline calls \"a memorable enigma of a movie monster\" in Okuno's debut feature, *Watcher*.[2](https://deadline.com/2025/10/brides-neon-chloe-okuno-adds-four-cast-1236594051/)\n\n## Production and financing\n\nThe film was set up at Likely Story, the production company of Anthony Bregman and Stefanie Azpiazu, with Greg Zuk also producing and Manor Kill Media providing financing.[1](https://deadline.com/2025/05/olivia-cooke-brides-1236412055/) • [2](https://deadline.com/2025/10/brides-neon-chloe-okuno-adds-four-cast-1236594051/) Neon acquired North American rights and was to release the film theatrically; according to Deadline's October 2025 report, Neon boarded the rights \"last year\", that is, in 2024.[1](https://deadline.com/2025/05/olivia-cooke-brides-1236412055/) • [2](https://deadline.com/2025/10/brides-neon-chloe-okuno-adds-four-cast-1236594051/) Focus International will release the film internationally, with FilmNation handling some territories.[2](https://deadline.com/2025/10/brides-neon-chloe-okuno-adds-four-cast-1236594051/)\n\nNeon's recent horror releases include *Longlegs*, *The Monkey*, *Immaculate*, *Possessor*, *[Infinity Pool](https://www.edgepedia.org/infinity-pool-film)*, *Cuckoo*, and *Little Monsters*.[3](https://theplaylist.net/brides-neon-olivia-cooke-neon-vampire-movie-horror-chloe-okuno-20250528/)\n\nFilming commenced in Budapest, Hungary, in October 2025, with Hungary standing in for 1960s Italy.[2](https://deadline.com/2025/10/brides-neon-chloe-okuno-adds-four-cast-1236594051/) • [3](https://theplaylist.net/brides-neon-olivia-cooke-neon-vampire-movie-horror-chloe-okuno-20250528/)\n\n## The Monroe-to-Cooke recasting\n\n[Maika Monroe](https://www.edgepedia.org/maika-monroe) was originally attached to star. In May 2025 it was reported that she had exited the film at the last minute because of scheduling conflicts with *Reminders of Him*, a Universal film directed by Vanessa Caswill, and that her departure delayed production.[1](https://deadline.com/2025/05/olivia-cooke-brides-1236412055/) • [3](https://theplaylist.net/brides-neon-olivia-cooke-neon-vampire-movie-horror-chloe-okuno-20250528/) Olivia Cooke stepped in to replace her as Sally Bishop.[1](https://deadline.com/2025/05/olivia-cooke-brides-1236412055/)\n\nThe change carried a professional irony: Monroe had also starred as the lead of Okuno's debut feature, *Watcher*, which premiered in the U.S. Dramatic [Competition](https://www.edgepedia.org/competition) at the 2022 [Sundance Film Festival](https://www.edgepedia.org/sundance-film-festival).[1](https://deadline.com/2025/05/olivia-cooke-brides-1236412055/)\n\n## Okuno's career and genre context\n\n*Brides* is Chloe Okuno's second feature. Her first, the psychological thriller *[Watcher](https://www.edgepedia.org/watcher-film)*, premiered at Sundance in 2022 and starred Monroe and [Burn Gorman](https://www.edgepedia.org/burn-gorman).[1](https://deadline.com/2025/05/olivia-cooke-brides-1236412055/)\n\nThe film enters a market in which vampire projects have been notably active, following [Robert Eggers](https://www.edgepedia.org/robert-eggers)' *Nosferatu* remake and [Ryan Coogler](https://www.edgepedia.org/ryan-coogler)'s commercially successful *Sinners*, which [The Playlist](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-playlist) credits with \"breathing new life into the horror sub-genre\".[3](https://theplaylist.net/brides-neon-olivia-cooke-neon-vampire-movie-horror-chloe-okuno-20250528/)\n\n## References\n\n1. [\"'House of the Dragon' Star Olivia Cooke To Star In 'Brides' for Neon (Exclusive)\", Deadline, May 2025](https://deadline.com/2025/05/olivia-cooke-brides-1236412055/)\n2. [\"'Brides': Neon Movie From Chloe Okuno Adds Four To Cast\", Deadline, October 23, 2025](https://deadline.com/2025/10/brides-neon-chloe-okuno-adds-four-cast-1236594051/)\n3. [\"'Brides': Olivia Cooke Replaces Maika Monroe In 1960s Italian-Set Vampire Pic From NEON & Chloe Okuno\", The Playlist, May 28, 2025](https://theplaylist.net/brides-neon-olivia-cooke-neon-vampire-movie-horror-chloe-okuno-20250528/)\n4. [\"Jodie Turner-Smith, Harry Lawtey, and more join Olivia Cooke in the cast of vampire movie Brides\", JoBlo](https://www.joblo.com/brides-cast/)\n5. [\"Brides (2026)\", FilmDB](https://filmdb.co.uk/titles/738552/brides)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Horror films (individual works) › Gothic horror films*\n\n*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 15, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/brides-2026-film", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/brides-2026-film.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Brides (2026 film)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/brides-2026-film. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Brides (2026 film)](https://www.edgepedia.org/brides-2026-film)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/brides-2026-film](https://www.edgepedia.org/brides-2026-film). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Brides (2026 film)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/brides-2026-film. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Brides is an upcoming American gothic horror film written and directed by Chloe Okuno, starring Olivia Cooke as Sally Bishop, a woman stranded at a mysterious Italian villa in 1961." }