EXCLUSIVE: The producers of hit Netflix movie Nowhere, the streamer’s most-watched Spanish-language film ever, have found their next movie in the shape of supernatural horror Tooth Fairy, which UK sales firm Architect is launching ahead of the EFM in Berlin.
The Spanish-language movie follows a series of child disappearances in a tight-knit rural community in Spain. As a social worker begins to dig into the village’s myths and legends, she discovers she has unwittingly reawakened a terrifying, vengeful spirit. Filming is due to get underway this summer with casting underway.
Producers Miguel Ruz and Jordi Roca have locked financing on the project from writer-director Tony Morales. The movie marks the feature film directorial debut of Spanish filmmaker Morales, whose horror shorts include Abracitos, Black Eyed Child, Alicia, and Hada, on which Tooth Fairy is based.
Rock & Ruz are coming off their debut feature, the Netflix survival thriller Nowhere, which has amassed 85m views and 155m hours viewed, ranking as the streamer’s most-watched Spanish-language film to date, and its second most-watched non-English language film ever. At its launch, it was number one in 45 countries, and ended 2023 as the year’s most watched non-English language title on the service. Ruz was also a co-writer on the project.
Architect have launched worldwide sales on Tooth Fairy and as executive producers have raised financing through Brazilian outfit Reagent Media, which also produces. Reagent’s Marcos Tellechea and Guilherme Martin Somlo are executive producers. Ruz and Roca’s outfit Rock & Ruz are handling rights for Spain and Portugal.
Reagent previously produced Pacificado, which won Best Film at the San Sebastian Film Festival. They executive-produced American Made, starring Tom Cruise, and provided financing for The Revenant and Lone Survivor. The company most recently premiered Justin Anderson’s Swimming Home at International Film Festival Rotterdam.
Producer Jordi Roca said: “We can’t wait to introduce Tony to the wider world – he’s a star in the making and he lives and breathes horror movies. Tooth Fairy, expanding his terrifying short film, is the perfect vehicle to showcase his talents. We’re delighted to be partnering with Reagent and Architect to bring Tony’s nightmare to life!”
Reagent’s Marcos Tellechea added: “We knew Miguel and Jordi’s prowess for discovering talent, and for developing genre projects with real breakout potential. Nowhere has put them firmly on the map, and we’re excited to be part of their next chapter with Tooth Fairy.”
Architect’s Calum Gray commented: “Tooth Fairy is being lovingly crafted by a well-oiled team of cutting edge, commercial genre filmmakers who intimately get modern global audiences. We can’t wait to introduce this spine tingling, indelible supernatural horror (and it’s singularly scary antagonist) to buyers at EFM.”
Architect is in post-production on survival thriller The Bayou, produced by Tea Shop and Cowboy Cosmonaut, which is financed by sister company Creativity Capital. The slate includes Mindful, starring Jenny Slate and produced by Tracey Nyberg, and writer-director Martha Stevens’ 99 Days, starring Mckenna Grace.