Since World Wrestling Entertainment ventured into the world of major motion pictures in 2002, the sports entertainment company has formed many partnerships to produce a wide variety of films. Just like the great tag teams that have made their way through a WWE ring like the Legion of Doom, the Dudley Boyz, or the Hart Foundation, WWE joined forces with Hollywood heavy hitters like Universal Studios, 20th Century Fox, Lionsgate, and Warner Bros. to combine their strengths and find varying degrees of success with a range of films in many genres including comedy, drama, horror, and animation.
However, it seems like WWE Studios has found the most success with horror films. Aside from ‘The Marine’ starring John Cena and ‘The Call’ with Halle Berry, Abigail Breslin, and WWE Superstar David Otunga, the most popular projects at the box office have been 2006’s ‘See No Evil’, which spawned a sequel directed by the Soska Sisters, and 2014’s ‘Oculus’ featuring ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ and ‘Doctor Who’ star Karen Gillan and Katee Sackhoff of ‘Battlestar Galactica’. That’s likely one reason behind the latest announcement involving one of the most iconic faces (and tongues) in music history.
According to WWE.com, WWE Studios announced prior to Sunday’s Wrestlemania 31 that they would be partnering with KISS bassist and frontman Gene Simmons to form Erebus Pictures, a horror movie label named after the Greek primordial deity representing the personification of darkness. This three-picture co-production deal will start with ‘Exile To Babylon’ writer Matt Savelloni’s ‘Temple’, which was originally acquired and developed but WWE Studios. Here’s the synopsis for the film that begins production this summer:
[‘Temple’] will follow a team of highly trained operatives who find themselves trapped inside an isolated military compound after its artificial intelligence is suddenly shut down. While investigating the source of the malfunction, the crew begins to experience strange and horrific phenomena as they attempt to uncover who or what killed the team previously stationed at the compound.
While the director of ‘Temple’ and the second feature from Erebus Pictures will be announced soon, both Simmons and WWE hope to appeal to each of their passionate fan bases that typically overlap with horror movie fans through their extensive platforms including WWE programming, the WWE Network, and the social media of both parties.
What do you think about WWE Studios and Gene Simmons partnering to form Erebus Pictures? Does their first film ‘Temple’ sounds like a winner to you? Do you think that the KISS Army and the WWE Universe will back this new endeavor? Share your thoughts in the comments.
