Long-Awaited ‘Dead by Daylight’ Movie Officially Has a Director

For years, Dead by Daylight has built one of the most recognizable brands in horror gaming. The multiplayer phenomenon has welcomed icons from across the genre into The Fog, turning matches into dream crossover scenarios where Ghostface, Michael Myers, Chucky, and countless others can hunt survivors on the same battlefield.

That success made a movie adaptation a highly requested item from fans. Behaviour Interactive first announced plans for a movie in 2023, partnering with major horror players to bring the franchise to theaters. Since then, updates have been relatively scarce, leaving fans wondering what shape the project would ultimately take and who would be responsible for bringing the game’s unique brand of terror to the big screen. Now, one of the biggest pieces of that puzzle has finally fallen into place.

‘The Damned’ Director Will Bring ‘Dead by Daylight’ to Theaters

Image via Vertical

During Dead by Daylight‘s 10th anniversary celebration broadcast, Behaviour Interactive confirmed that Icelandic filmmaker Thordur Palsson has been tapped to direct the upcoming movie adaptation. Palsson is best known for directing the atmospheric horror movie The Damned. According to comments shared during the anniversary presentation, the filmmaker’s goal is to recreate the tension that defines the experience of actually playing Dead by Daylight, particularly the constant feeling that danger could be waiting just out of sight.

The movie’s screenplay is being developed by horror veteran Alexandre Aja alongside screenwriter David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick. While plot details remain under wraps, the anniversary presentation also confirmed that recognizable locations from the game will appear in the movie. Among them are the MacMillan Estate and Greenville, two settings longtime players will immediately recognize. The adaptation was originally announced through a partnership between Blumhouse, Atomic Monster, and Behaviour Interactive. At the time, the project was still in its earliest stages, with no writer or director attached. The addition of Palsson marks the clearest sign yet that the movie is moving into a more active phase of development.

First released in 2016, Dead by Daylight has grown into one of gaming’s most successful horror franchises. The asymmetrical multiplayer pits a single killer against four survivors and has become famous for bringing together some of horror’s biggest names through licensed collaborations. Over the years, players have seen characters and locations inspired by franchises including Halloween, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Scream, Hellraiser, Silent Hill, and Resident Evil. The anniversary livestream also included announcements of future collaborations, including the arrival of horror’s infamous Art the Clown from the Terrifier franchise.

With a director now attached and production expected to begin next year, the long-gestating adaptation finally appears to be stepping out of The Fog. Follow Collider for horror updates, including future Dead by Daylight adaptation news such as a release date when the announcement is made.