Parker Finn’s upcoming remake of the 1981 cult horror classic Possession has expanded its ensemble with the addition of Madeline Brewer, Nicholas Alexander Chavez and Emory Cohen. The three actors join Paramount Pictures’ highly anticipated reimagining alongside previously announced cast members Margaret Qualley, Callum Turner, Paul Dano and Diego Calva, further strengthening one of the studio’s most high-profile horror projects currently in production.
Brewer, best known for Cam and You, Chavez, whose recent credits include Ryan Murphy’s Monsters and Grotesquerie, and Cohen, recognised for Sweetheart and Lords of Chaos, all bring experience in psychologically intense and genre-driven projects. While Paramount has not revealed any character details for the newly announced cast members, their additions continue to build anticipation around Finn’s reinterpretation of Andrzej Żuławski’s influential psychological horror film.
The newcomers join an ensemble led by Margaret Qualley and Callum Turner, who are taking on the roles originally portrayed by Isabelle Adjani and the late Sam Neill. Although the studio has yet to confirm individual character assignments, industry reports suggest Diego Calva may portray Anna’s lover, while Paul Dano is expected to play the private investigator hired to follow her. Neither casting detail has been officially confirmed by Paramount.
Released in 1981, Possession follows the unraveling marriage of Anna and Mark, a couple living in Cold War-era West Berlin whose separation gradually descends into a disturbing supernatural nightmare. Initially polarising audiences and critics, the film has since been reappraised as one of horror cinema’s defining works, propelled by Isabelle Adjani’s unforgettable, Cannes Film Festival-winning performance.
Finn, who previously directed Smile and Smile 2, is writing and directing the remake. Describing Andrzej Żuławski’s original as one of his favourite films, the filmmaker has said he wants his version to be “viciously sharp, crazy, insane,” while retaining the emotional intensity and ferocity that made the original a cult classic. Principal photography began earlier this month, with the production shooting on 35mm film.
The project is being produced by Finn through his Bad Feeling banner alongside Jonathan Fass, with Roy Lee and Andrew Childs producing for Vertigo Entertainment. Robert Pattinson is also attached as a producer, while Marc Beinstock serves as executive producer. Paramount secured the remake following the commercial success of Smile 2, winning a competitive bidding war that reportedly included several major studios, independent companies and streaming platforms.
The announcement has generated mixed reactions among horror fans, many of whom regard Possession as one of the genre’s untouchable classics. However, Isabelle Adjani has publicly endorsed the project. Speaking to Numéro during the Cannes Film Festival, the actress described the remake as “a kind of intelligent opportunism” in Hollywood while expressing her support for Margaret Qualley, calling her “incredibly talented” and giving her blessing to inherit the role.
Paramount has not yet revealed an official synopsis for the remake, though it is expected to retain the central premise of the original film. With filming now underway and a cast that includes Margaret Qualley, Callum Turner, Paul Dano, Diego Calva, Madeline Brewer, Nicholas Alexander Chavez and Emory Cohen, Possession continues to emerge as one of the most closely watched horror projects targeting a 2027 release.
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