First Look at “The Monkey” Teaser Trailer

The highly anticipated trailer for the film “The Monkey,” based on a short story by an unnamed acclaimed author, has been unveiled to eager fans of supernatural horror. Directed by filmmaker Osgood Perkins, known for his previous work “Longlegs,” the movie stars Theo James, famous for his role in “The White Lotus,” taking on the dual roles of twin brothers Hal and Bill.

The stellar cast is rounded out by Tatiana Maslany, recognized for “She-Hulk,” Elijah Wood, a noted actor from “The Lord of The Rings,” and Laura Mennell, known for her role in “Batwoman.” Also featured are Christian Convery of “Sweet Tooth,” Sarah Levy from “Schitt’s Creek,” Rohan Campbell of “The Hardy Boys,” Colin O’Brien from “Dear Edward,” and Corin Clark, associated with “Upload.”

The film’s plot is teased with a compelling logline: “When twin brothers Bill and Hal find their father’s old monkey toy in the attic, a series of gruesome deaths begin. The siblings decide to discard the toy and focus on moving on with their lives, gradually growing apart over the years.”

The first teaser presents an eerie scene featuring a menacing monkey toy, obscured in shadows, beginning to play a drum set in front of a bloodied character played by James. The intensity heightens as the character removes his glasses, with the video transitioning to the film’s title before closing on a chilling close-up of the creature’s teeth.

Perkins, in addition to directing, has also penned the screenplay for “The Monkey.” The production team features big names such as James Wan, a producer under his Atomic Monster banner. Wan is renowned as the co-creator of successful horror franchises including “Saw,” “Insidious,” “The Conjuring,” “Annabelle,” “The Nun,” and “M3GAN.” He is also involved in another upcoming adaptation of a work by the same author, “Salem’s Lot,” alongside his frequent collaborator, Michael Clear.

The film’s distribution rights had been at the center of an intense bidding war at the Marché du Film last May, with Neon ultimately securing the domestic distribution. “The Monkey” is set to hit theaters on February 21, 2025.

In a noteworthy promotion effort, the film “Longlegs,” directed by Perkins and released earlier this year, will reappear in cinemas for a limited engagement from October 23 to October 31. Following its screenings, audiences will be treated to an exclusive sneak peek of “The Monkey,” featuring a conversation between Perkins and actor Theo James.