‘A Body In The Woods’: Emma Roberts Teams Up With ‘Hell House’ Creator For New Horror

Emma Roberts’ reputation as one of the defining scream queens of her generation looks set to continue.

The actress is teaming up with Stephen Cognetti, the creator behind the “Hell House LLC” franchise, for a new horror film titled “A Body in the Woods.”

The new movie is scheduled to begin production later this year.

Roberts has established herself as a credible force in the genre, building an extensive horror résumé on both film and TV.

Cognetti will direct the project and has also written the screenplay for the upcoming film.

In “A Body in the Woods,” Emma Roberts portrays Alice, a woman left alone in her remote cabin to keep watch over the body of an unidentified mine worker.

 As night falls, strange events begin to unfold, leaving Alice to fear that the corpse may not be completely at rest.

According to a Deadline report, producer Dave Caplan is particularly excited about the prospect of what Roberts and Cognetti can bring to the project.

“Stephen has consistently proven he can create terrifying, elevated immersive horror experiences,” Caplan said. “With Emma in the lead, ‘A Body in the Woods’ is an undeniable package.”

On his part, Cognetti described the movie as an effort to test the boundaries of fear for both the characters and the viewers.

“My goal with ‘A Body in the Woods’ is to deliver an elevated horror film that tests the limits of fear,” the director also told Deadline.

The director also praised Roberts’ experience in the genre and her approach to her performances across various horror productions.

“Emma brings an intelligence and emotional fearlessness that elevates everything she touches,” Cognetti explained. “She understands horror on a cellular level… how to balance vulnerability, strength, and terror.”

Roberts has been a steady presence in horror films and television since the early 2010s, when she began transitioning away from the roles that first made her a teenage superstar.

In 2011, she played Jill Roberts in “Scream 4,” bringing to life a character that would ultimately turn into one of the franchise’s most notorious villains.

She also won a lot of plaudits for her work in “The Blackcoat’s Daughter,” where she played a disturbed young woman on the run from a mental institution.

Roberts is probably best known for her recurring roles across multiple seasons of Ryan Murphy’s “American Horror Story.”

Thanks to her broad portfolio in horror, Roberts has had the unique opportunity to play both victims and villainous roles.

In a 2019 interview with Los Angeles Magazine, the actress said she doesn’t favor one side over the other.

“I think both are really fun,” Roberts said.

At the time, she was also starring as Brooke Thompson in the ninth season of “American Horror Story.”

Brooke was a victim, but Roberts had already depicted dangerous, morally questionable characters in the series.

“This year I’m playing more of the victim,” she said. “But playing the villain in Ryan Murphy World is great because the dialogue’s smart and juicy-funny as well as scary.”

In 2017, Roberts discussed the enduring appeal of horror films during an interview with Nylon, alongside her “The Blackcoat’s Daughter” co-star Kiernan Shipka.

While both actresses offered different perspectives on why audiences remain drawn to the genre, Roberts argued that films in the genre stand out because they offer unique communal viewing experiences.

“Horror is a genre where you can include your friends. It’s a group activity,” she said. “You go out to see a romantic movie with your partner, or you go to a comedy to laugh with a couple of girlfriends. Horror is a communal thing. When I go to horror movies, it’s with ten friends.”

Roberts is also set to return to “American Horror Story” for the upcoming 13th season, which also includes Ariana Grande as well as several major returning stars.