We finally know what Melissa Barrera's upcoming monster horror Abigail is all about.
The previously-teased spooky comedy has released a first trailer seeing its star-studded cast, including Barrera, Downton Abbey's Dan Stevens and Marvel's Kathryn Newton, fighting a child vampire who also happens to be a gifted ballerina.
Kicking off as a heist movie, Abigail is loosely inspired by 1936's Dracula's Daughter, and will follow a group of kidnappers realising they have abducted the count's evil spawn.
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Anticipated by the tagline "Children can be such monsters", Abigail is directed by filmmaking duo Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett (Ready or Not), who have previously worked with Barrera on Scream (2022) and Scream VI.
Alongside Barrera, Stevens and Newton, the film also features Better Call Saul's Giancarlo Esposito, Locke & Key's Kevin Durand, Lovecraft Country's William Catlett and Euphoria's Angus Cloud in a posthumous appearance following his death in July last year.
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The titular on-pointe monster is played by Matilda: The Musical star Alisha Weir.
Related: Neve Campbell addresses potential Scream return after "disrespectful" experience
Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett have passed the baton for Scream 7, originally to be helmed by Freaky director Christopher Landon. The filmmaker has recently exited the project after the departure of the slasher saga's new stars Barrera and Jenna Ortega.
Barrera, who played protagonist Sam Carpenter in Scream (2022) and Scream VI, exited the project following social media comments made about the Israel-Palestine conflict last November. The same month it was announced that Ortega, who portrays Sam's sister Tara, won't be appearing in the new movie either due to a scheduling conflict.
Abigail is released in US cinemas on April 19. A UK release date is yet to announced. Scream VI is streaming on Paramount+, and the seventh film is in the works.
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Reporter, Digital Spy
Stefania is a freelance writer specialising in TV and movies. After graduating from City University, London, she covered LGBTQ+ news and pursued a career in entertainment journalism, with her work appearing in outlets including Little White Lies, The Skinny, Radio Times and Digital Spy.
Her beats are horror films and period dramas, especially if fronted by queer women. She can argue why Scream is the best slasher in four languages (and a half).
