Netflix Snaps Up Shark Thriller From Violent Night Filmmaker

After two years of speculation, the much-discussed shark thriller from Tommy Wirkola has found a new home. Sony Pictures, having quietly removed the untitled project from its theatrical schedule—where it was once pencilled in for a July 2026 debut—has now handed the reins to Netflix. The streaming giant struck a deal with producers Adam McKay and Kevin Messick, operating under the HyperObject Industries banner, to bring the film to audiences worldwide.

“We couldn't be more excited to be back in business with all our friends at Netflix on this film. We had a great experience together on Don't Look Up and look forward to working with them to make this an event streaming release in 2026,” the producers shared. While the plot remains tightly under wraps, what’s certain is that Phoebe Dynevor, who shot to fame in Bridgerton, will be joined by Djimon Hounsou and Whitney Peak. The trio are set to face off against some rather unfriendly marine predators, though precisely how remains a mystery for now.

Wirkola, best known for his blood-soaked festive caper Violent Night—where David Harbour’s brawny Father Christmas left quite the impression—has a knack for genre-bending mayhem. His previous credits include Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters and the dystopian What Happened to Monday, so expectations for a straightforward creature feature are, understandably, low.

Sharks Take Centre Stage in 2026

If the prospect of glamorous leads battling toothy adversaries appeals, 2026 is shaping up to be a banner year. Not content with his cult classic Deep Blue Sea from 1999, Renny Harlin is returning to familiar waters with Deep Water, set for release in May. This time, Aaron Eckhart, Kelly Gale, Ben Kingsley, Madeleine West, and Angus Sampson find themselves stranded after an emergency landing in shark-infested seas, forced to band together as the circling predators close in.

The official synopsis for Deep Water reads: “A group of international passengers en route from Los Angeles to Shanghai are forced to make an emergency landing in shark-infested waters. Now they must work together in hopes to overcome the frenzy of sharks drawn to the wreckage.” Unlike Harlin’s earlier foray, there’ll be no genetically modified monsters this time—just the raw, natural threat of the ocean’s most notorious hunters.

Legacy of Deep Blue Sea and Fan Campaigns

Harlin’s Deep Blue Sea, which starred Thomas Jane, Stellan Skarsgård, Samuel L. Jackson, and Saffron Burrows, remains a touchstone for aquatic horror. The film’s plot, involving a research facility’s ill-fated attempt to cure Alzheimer’s with the help of super-intelligent mako sharks, quickly devolved into a desperate struggle for survival as the tables turned on the scientists. In a curious twist, Thomas Jane, who played Carter Blake, even championed a fan petition in 2023 to alter the film’s ending, proving the enduring fascination with shark-infested thrillers.

With Wirkola’s new project joining the fray, and Harlin’s return to the genre, viewers can expect a proper feeding frenzy of suspense and spectacle in the coming year. Whether it’s the lure of star power, the promise of inventive set pieces, or simply the primal fear of what lurks beneath, 2026 is set to deliver a double dose of aquatic peril.