Jeremy Saulnier’s upcoming A24 thriller has reportedly been retitled Slayground, with new details emerging about its current runtime and story. The film was previously known as October and has been in post-production for nearly a year, but A24 has yet to announce an official release date.
According to a new report from World of Reel, the film was recently screened internally and currently runs around two and a half hours. The report also says the project has been renamed Slayground, a title reportedly taken from the haunted attraction where the film’s lead character works.
Slayground follows a man who becomes the primary suspect in a mass murder investigation. After escaping police custody, he goes on the run and attempts to prove his innocence while being pursued as the target of a large manhunt.
The film is set around Halloween and has previously been described as a fugitive thriller. The story is said to begin with an extended long take before moving into a tense chase that barely lets up. The film has also been compared to The Fugitive in its focus on a character trying to stay ahead of the authorities while fighting to clear his name.
The Halloween setting appears to be an important part of the film, with the new title Slayground reportedly referring to the haunted attraction connected to the story.
Cory Michael Smith is set to lead the film, marking his first major leading role in an A24 feature. Smith is known for his work in Gotham, Carol, May December and Saturday Night, as well as his recent performance in Jesse Armstrong’s Mountainhead.
The supporting cast includes Chase Sui Wonders, Sophie Wilde, Stephen Root, Imogen Poots, Matty Matheson and Young Mazino. James Badge Dale, Stanley Simons and Chris Sullivan have also been reported as part of the ensemble, while Saulnier collaborator Macon Blair has a small role.
The project originally began coming together in 2025, when Smith was announced as the lead. Production later expanded with the addition of the rest of the cast, with filming taking place in Vancouver and Portland.
Jeremy Saulnier is writing and directing Slayground, with A24 financing and producing the film. The project reunites the filmmaker with the studio following his acclaimed 2016 thriller Green Room.
Saulnier has built a reputation for making intense genre films that combine action, violence and suspense with grounded characters. His filmography includes Blue Ruin, Green Room, Hold the Dark and Rebel Ridge. His latest project is expected to continue that style, with early descriptions pointing to a hard-hitting chase thriller with a darker Halloween setting.
The production team includes Rich Peete, Eli Bush, Saulnier and Skei Saulnier as producers, alongside executive producers including Josh Safdie, Ronald Bronstein, Traci Carlson, Elliott Coley and Macon Blair. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross are also attached to provide the score.
There is currently no confirmed release date for Slayground. According to World of Reel, A24 is considering a 2027 release, with a festival premiere also possible. However, no festival has been officially announced yet.
The reported two-and-a-half-hour runtime suggests that Saulnier may be working on one of his most ambitious films yet. With its Halloween setting, fugitive storyline and large ensemble led by Cory Michael Smith, Slayground is shaping up as another tense genre project from the director behind Blue Ruin and Green Room.
For now, audiences will have to wait for A24 to officially confirm the new title, release plans and further details about the film.
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