They Will Kill You with Zazie Beetz, Patricia Arquette, and Heather Graham

They Will Kill You is the first production from Nocturna, the horror label launched by Andy and Barbara Muschietti following the success of the It franchise. Directed by Kirill Sokolov, known for his intense action style, the film features Zazie Beetz as Asia Reaves, a housekeeper working at the Virgil, a luxury Manhattan skyscraper that conceals a satanic cult performing monthly human sacrifices.

The story follows Asia as she realizes she is the cult’s next intended victim. Beetz, recognized for her role in The Dutchman alongside Andre Holland and Kate Mara, plays a character with a criminal past that equips her with unexpected combat skills relative to the cult members. The screenplay, co-written by Sokolov and Alex Litvak, merges horror with action-comedy, incorporating stylized violence reminiscent of 1970s genre films.

Patricia Arquette portrays a Virgil resident who acquaints Asia with the building’s rules. Filming occurred in Cape Town from August to December 2024, during which Arquette shared behind-the-scenes footage. Heather Graham holds a key role, though specific details remain undisclosed. Tom Felton, known for the Harry Potter series, and Myha’la, lead actress in Industry, also appear as members of the Virgil community.

Announced in June 2024 as Nocturna’s inaugural release, the project secured distribution rights with New Line Cinema in July. Paterson Joseph is part of the cast in a role described as central to the plot. Isaac Bauman served as director of photography, Luke Doolan handled editing, and Carlos Rafael Rivera composed the original score.

South African locations were used to replicate the confined interiors of the New York skyscraper. Heather Graham documented her set experience on social media, noting collaboration with Arquette and city exploration during breaks. The production budget, estimated at approximately eighty million dollars, supported the construction of detailed sets featuring corridors inspired by The Shining and a red-dominant color palette.

The trailer, released January 5, 2026, shows combat scenes where Asia faces cult members wielding flaming axes and improvised weapons. The film runs ninety-four minutes, with editing designed to maintain steady pacing. The world premiere is scheduled for March 17, 2026, at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, which has recently hosted horror debuts such as Ready or Not, currently in sequel development.

Warner Bros. Pictures will distribute the film in U.S. theaters starting March 27, 2026, targeting a spring release, a period favorable for horror films. New Line Cinema’s co-financing with Skydance reflects confidence in Sokolov’s ability to engage genre audiences, following positive festival reception of his previous film Why Don’t You Just Die!.