New IDW Dark Series Traps Six Horror Filmmakers in a Festival That Kills
IDW Publishing announced Fatal Fest, the next original series from writer Hannah Rose May through its IDW Dark horror imprint, with art by Andrea Scalmazzi. May's previous IDW Dark work includes Rogues' Gallery and Smile: For the Camera, and The Exorcism at 1600 Penn, which is currently being adapted to film by Blumhouse-Atomic Monster, with the sequel The Exorcism at Buckingham Palace ongoing now in comic shops.
Fatal Fest follows six up-and-coming horror filmmakers who are invited to compete at Fatal Fest, a secretive film festival run by reclusive horror mogul Frank Finch and his production empire, Fatal Films. The competition comes with one rule from Frank: to make real fear on screen, you have to experience it first. Surviving the festival means being willing to kill for it. The series uses the premise to examine Hollywood's relationship with IP obsession, the hunger for fame, and the way the entertainment industry treats art as a commodity.
"I've wanted to tell this story for years. It lives at the intersection of everything I love: horror, Hollywood and our cultural obsession with IP," said May. "I've been dying to explore what happens when obsession collides with violent ambition and with Fatal Fest we get to dial that all the way up to the most terrifying degree. This is my third original series with IDW and I'm so grateful for their continued trust and for letting me run wild with my most twisted story yet."
"Every now and then, a pitch lands on your desk that reminds you why you love comics in the first place. Fatal Fest was one of those projects for us," said Senior Group Editor Heather Antos. "It's bold, bloody, incredibly clever, and completely unapologetic in its vision. From the first page, we knew readers were in for something unforgettable. Hannah and Andrea have created a world that feels equal parts Hollywood horror satire, psychological thriller, and pure nightmare fuel."
Further details on Fatal Fest, including an on-sale date, will be announced at a later date according to IDW.
