Sydney Sweeney Takes the Reins in Haunting Sleepy Hollow Reboot

Well, Sydney Sweeney has been everywhere lately – and apparently, she’s not slowing down any time soon. After banking a few blockbusters (and the odd box office misfire), she’s decided to put her stamp on one of America’s oldest bits of spooky folklore. The tale? The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. But there’s a twist: this isn’t the same old Ichabod Crane story dusted off for another round. This time, we’re seeing things through Katrina Van Tassel’s eyes – yes, the woman who’s usually just the shiny prize in the schoolmaster’s endless chase.

Sweeney’s Latest Power Move

Sydney Sweeney isn’t just starring; she’s producing Hollow as well. After a massive win with The Housemaid (modest budget, huge $400 million global haul, in case you lost track), not to mention her steady run with TV hits like Euphoria and The White Lotus, she’s not mucking about. Sure, not every project has been gold – her neo-western Americana barely made a ripple and went straight to streaming – but she’s clearly not put off by the odd stumble.

What’s the Deal with Hollow?

This one’s a contemporary spin on Washington Irving’s dusty old ghost story from 1820 – you know, the Headless Horseman and all that. The person pulling the strings is Lindsey Anderson Beer, who’s not just adapting her own debut novel (also called Hollow), but writing and directing the film herself. Fun detail: Beer’s manuscript sold so quickly, it didn’t even make it to auction. Penguin Random House (via Putnam) snatched up the rights before anyone else could get their hands on it.

Beer’s plan isn’t just another gothic retread. She describes Hollow as a supernatural mystery with, in her words, some 'seductive love-triangle' energy. Frankly, that’s exactly the sort of thing Sweeney’s been thriving on since her White Lotus days.

Who’s Who?

• Sydney Sweeney: Starring as Katrina Van Tassel and producing
• Lindsey Anderson Beer: Writing the book (out in 2027) and directing the film
• Honey Trap: Sweeney’s new production shingle, only launched a few days ago (her first-look deal with Sony)
• Kaylee McGregor: Sweeney’s longtime collaborator, running Honey Trap alongside her
• LuckyChap: The outfit behind Barbie, producing here too (so there’s plenty of starry backing)
• Lab Brew: Beer’s own production arm, also on board

Beer’s Horror Credentials (and Her Take on Sleepy Hollow)

Lindsey Anderson Beer knows her way around horror IP. She made her feature directorial debut with Pet Sematary: Bloodlines for Paramount in 2023 and wrote the Netflix teen comedy Sierra Burgess Is a Loser (which is a strange CV, but there you have it). For Hollow, she claims she’s skipping the Tim Burton approach: not revisiting the Johnny Depp-starring Sleepy Hollow or any other old film versions, and instead digging into Irving’s original text and the local Hudson Valley ghost stories. Interestingly, she’s been circling Sleepy Hollow for a while – was attached to do a version for Paramount since 2022 – but this is the first time she’s working from her own novel, straight from page to screen.

'I wanted to look at that woman people have always written off in every version, and bring her front and centre.'

When and Where?

Here’s the kicker: nobody’s even bought the film rights yet. The project is reportedly going out to studios as soon as this week, with expectations that everyone will pile in with offers (so expect a good old-fashioned bidding scrap). The novel itself isn’t due on shelves until autumn 2027, but the whole schedule is being timed so book and film arrive together – presuming a studio steps up.