James Franco’s comeback continues with a horror movie set inside a haunted film studio

James Franco is back for another round, this time stepping into a supernatural horror from a brand-new production outfit. This one is called Something's in There, and yes, it's part of Franco's ongoing attempt at a career resurrection—something that's not exactly gone unnoticed.

Something's in There is one of four Catalytic Films features going to the American Film Market.

The Setting: Studio Nightmares

The premise sounds like a proper late-night fright fest. The main character here is Billy Hobbs, played by Peter Gold—a wannabe director who gets a gig as the night watchman at a film studio. At first, it all seems suspiciously ideal: empty sets, peaceful shifts, hours left to watch his favourite scary movies and take notes for his own.

But, surprise, things do not stay peaceful for long. As soon as the sun's down, the place goes full Poltergeist: odd noises, lights flickering to life on their own, shadows turning up where you'd really rather they didn't. Billy, being a horror obsessive, naturally tries to use reason before panic, but that falls apart fast when people linked to the studio start dropping dead in increasingly strange ways.

The Cast & The Comeback

Here's where James Franco comes in: he's playing Mitchell Montes, a key role alongside Gold. The rest of the cast includes Elsie Hewitt, Raoul Max Trujillo, Rob Moran, Paul Ben-Victor, Jayson Warner Smith, and Alexander Kane. If you like your indie horror with a bit of genre depth, you'll spot a few reliable names there. Rounding out the ensemble are Billy Jack Harlow, Maiya Moran, Shifali Baliga, Gene Braverock, and Chase Iron Eyes.

Who’s Behind It

Catalytic Films is a new name, run by Milena Rimassa, and they’re rolling this one out as part of a four-movie slate at the upcoming American Film Market. They're handling both production and international sales, which is a bold move for a brand-new company. Joel Harber is on writing and directing duties for Something's in There, bringing his own twist to the haunted workplace formula.

• The film is one of four in Catalytic's debut slate
• Franco is continuing his return after a high-profile break from Hollywood
• No premiere date has been announced yet