One of 2024’s besthorrornovels is getting the film treatment, and seems to be on the fast track to development after recently casting its young lead. Written by Josh Malerman (Bird Box),Incidents Around the Houseis set to be retitled toOther Mommywhen it hits the big screen in 2026 thanks to Universal and Atomic Monster, the same company behind 2021’sMortal Kombatand its upcoming sequel.
Per Deadline, eight-year-old Arabella Olivia Clark (Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere) has snagged the lead inOther Mommy, taking on the role of Bela, the novel’s protagonist. Directed by Rob Savage from a screenplay by Nathan Elston, she joins previously announced cast members Jessica Chastain (Interstellar,It Chapter Two), Jay Duplass (Baghead,The Baltimorons) and Dichen Lachman (Jurassic World Dominion,Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes).
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Published on June 20, 2025,Incidents Around the Housereceived high praise from fans and critics at the time of its release thanks to its unique structure, as the novel is told from the POV of Bela and written in a quick, staccato style. Malerman has always been great at building tension, and here is no different, as the bookis a slow-burn psychological thrillerwith elements of the supernatural that keep the reader guessing. Dealing with deep themes of childhood trauma and parental fears,Incidents Around the Households a global rating of 3.8/5 on Goodreads, and based on the film’s synopsis, Atomic Monster and company seem to be sticking pretty close to the source material:
“Based on the bookIncidentsAround the HousebyBird Box’s Josh Malerman, the film centers on 8-year-old Bela (Clark), who lives in a home strained by her parents' troubled marriage, only to see her life further upended by a sinister entity she calls ‘Other Mommy.’ When this malevolent presence emerges from her closet, persistently asking ‘Can I go inside your heart?’, Bela refuses. But soon, Other Mommy’s manifestations become increasingly aggressive, threatening the safety of Bela’s family.”
Atomic Monster Is Busier Than Ever Since Merging with Blumhouse
Putting a pin inOther Mommyto turn our attention to Atomic Monster as a whole, the company has a slate of other horror films and sequels on the go right now that are all slated to be released within the next year. In addition toMortal Kombat II, there’s alsoThe Conjuring: Last Rites, theM3GANspin-offSOULM8TE, and Lee Cronin’sThe Mummy.
That being said, since merging with Blumhouse in early 2024, things have been hit or miss for Atomic Monster as of late.Night Swimwas a critical flop, as was the’Salem’s Lotremake.The Monkey– based on the short story by Stephen King – has been their only real hit, especiallysinceM3GAN 2.0failed to dazzle at the box office last month.
Can they redeem themselves withOther Mommynext year as well as everything else that’s coming down the pike? Time will tell, but the switch to a moreCoraline-esque title doesn’t give us a lot of hope. We get it — it’s in reference to the story, but as good as Malerman’s novel is, Blumhouse and Atomic Monster don’t have the best track record as of late no matter what they call their movies, so why not just leave it as is to attract fans of the book? Here’s hoping they can pull the nose up to deliver something fresh, rather than just following the same formulaic horror beats many of their films have been known to do.
Look forOther Mommyto hit theaters on July 04, 2025, but in the meantime, you’re able to check out the excellent adaptation of Malerman’sBird Boxstreaming now on Netflix.
Source:Deadline
