‘Insidious’ Writer Books Acting Gig in ‘Home Invasion’ (Exclusive)

Leigh Whannell, the actor-turned-writer who co-created the Saw and Insidious horror franchises, has joined the cast of Home Invasion, a thriller being made by Voltage Pictures and Zinc Entertainment, a division of Silver Pictures.

Chandler Riggs, Bella Thorne, Ioan Gruffudd and Natalie Martinez are playing a family imprisoned in their own home by intruders who play a life-and-death game with mysterious rules that become clear as the night unfolds.

PHOTOS: 15 Horror Movies That Offered the Most Bang for the Buck

Much of Whannell’s role is being kept under wraps, although the character has been described as a mysterious guest who arrives at the family’s home.

Commercials director Sean Carter is helming the thriller, which has a script by Joseph Dembner.

Invasion is being produced by Silver Pictures’ Andrew Rona and Alex Heineman, who developed the script, along with Voltage’s Nicolas Chartier and Craig Flores.

Joel Silver and Steve Richards are exec producing with Michael Fiore.

STORY: Hollywood’s 20 Masters of Horror: The Twisted Talents Raising the Most Hell

Whannell wrote or co-wrote Saw, Saw II, and Saw III, and followed that up with Insidious and Insidious: Chapter 2. In the Insidious movies, he also played the part of Specs, one half of a lighthearted paranormal investigative duo.

Whannell is repped by Paradigm, Stacey Testro International and Myman Greenspan. 

Email: Borys.Kit@THR.com
Twitter: @borys_kit