A small town, a Halloween night and 12 killers fighting to be the last one standing are coming from Blumhouse Atomic. The horror company run by Jason Blum and James Wan has signed a first-look deal with James Tynion IV's Tiny Onion, starting with an adaptation of the Image Comics series Exquisite Corpses for both film and animation. Image shared the news yesterday. Check out the official post down below:
In the comic, created by Tynion and artist Michael Walsh, the wealthiest families in America play a game every 5 years on Halloween. Each one sends a champion killer into an unsuspecting town, and the last killer standing wins the game for their family. The first issue drops 12 of the deadliest people in the world into Oak Valley, Maine, where the townspeople have a simpler goal: survive the night.
The killers include Lone Gunman, Fox Mask Killer, Pretty Boy, Rascal Randy and Lady Carolina. Blumhouse is joining Tiny Onion and Lyrical Media on the project, and no director, writer or cast has been named yet.
Blum And Tynion On The Deal
Tynion said, "From the moment I first stepped into the Blumhouse offices, it felt like coming home. Every person in that building, and every filmmaker on their roster is dedicated to making great horror, and I'm thrilled to stand by their side and help bring these terrifying stories to life."
Blum, the CEO and co-founder of Blumhouse Atomic, pointed to the companies' existing work together. "James has been a valued partner on Something Is Killing The Children, which is why we wanted to expand our relationship," he said. "He has great storytelling instincts with a passion for the horror genre. As we look to develop more IP, this felt like a great fit, and we're happy to take the next step with him and Tiny Onion."
Something Is Killing The Children Comes First
Blumhouse and Tiny Onion were already developing a live-action Something Is Killing the Children movie and an adult animated series based on Tynion's monster-hunting comic. Craig Zobel recently signed on to direct the movie, which is expected to go into production next year. Tynion is leading the animated series, and his short film and one-shot comic Room Service is also in development.
Tynion's other horror comics include The Department of Truth and The Nice House on the Lake. He created Tiny Onion in 2024 to take more control over how his properties are adapted for the screen, and the company, backed by Lyrical Media, publishes through Image Comics, Dark Horse Comics and Penguin Random House.
A Comic Built As A Killer Contest
Exquisite Corpses #1 arrived on May 14, 2025, as a triple-sized, 64-page debut. Tynion and Walsh led a group of other creators who collaborated and competed over 13 chapters to determine which killers won and which died. The first issue went back for a 4th printing on October 1, 2025. The main series wrapped earlier this year and is collected in 3 trade paperbacks released on September 17, 2025, March 25, 2026, and August 19, 2026. Fox Mask Killer runs 5 issues and ends on March 3, 2027.
The comic has sold more than 1 million copies in 18 months. It has 3 spin-off series focused on Fox Mask Killer, Lone Gunman and Rascal Randy, Exquisite Corpses: Book of the Dead is scheduled for January 27, 2027, and a second main miniseries with new killers is planned for next year.
Blumhouse Atomic In 2027
Blumhouse Atomic, formed when the companies run by Blum and Wan merged, has 9 movies scheduled for 2027. The River opens the year on January 15, and the lineup also includes The Exorcist: Martyrs, Curry Barker's Anything But Ghosts and Drew Hancock's Seasons, which closes out the year.
Which Exquisite Corpses killer would make the best slasher villain on the big screen, and should Blumhouse keep the comic's Halloween setting?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.