Gene Simmons Partners With WWE Studios To Launch Horror-Movie Label

Gene Simmons Partners With WWE Studios Launch Horror-Movie Label — Gene Simmons - H 2014
AP Images

KISS frontman Gene Simmons has partnered with WWE Studios — the film, TV and digital-content division of the wrestling conglomerate — to launch horror movie label Erebus Pictures. Erebus will finance and co-produce three films, starting with Temple, which was acquired and developed by WWE Studios.

Erebus, named after the Greek primordial deity representing the personification of darkness, will shop worldwide rights on all movies and use WWE’s platforms, including flagship shows Monday Night Raw and SmackDown, to market its movies.

“The horror genre continues to fascinate me as it proves to be endlessly thrilling and engaging for audiences,” Simmons said in a statement. “I am so thrilled to be working with the masterminds from WWE Studios in launching Erebus Pictures.”

WWE Studios president Michael Luisi added, “Horror films fall into a genre that thrives on genuine passion, and I believe this partnership truly capitalizes on that sentiment and supports our vision. I am confident that Erebus will provide audiences with an unprecedented horror experience.”

Temple was written by Matt Savelloni and will follow a team of highly trained operatives who get trapped inside an isolated military compound after its artificial intelligence is shut down. The team begins to experience strange and horrific phenomena as they try to determine who or what killed the team previously stationed there. A director has not yet been announced, but principal photography on Temple is expected to take place this summer.

Erebus’ second feature will go into production later this year.

Bradley Buchanan negotiated the deal on behalf of WWE Studios.

Simmons is represented by Kleinberg Lange Cuddy & Carlo.

Recent WWE Studios films include Halle Berry‘s The Call and Oculus. Upcoming films include Aaron Eckhart‘s Incarnate; Killing Hasselhoff, starring Ken Jeong, David Hasselhoff and Hulk Hogan; The Marine 4 starring Real World star turned WWE wrestler The Miz; Dean Cain‘s Vendetta; and Randy Orton‘s The Condemned 2.