Death of a Unicorn is an upcoming A24 horror comedy and there have been some exciting updates about the film. Joining the increasingly unmatchable stable of A24 horror movies like Hereditary, The Witch, and Pearl, while also dabbling in A24 style comedy like Zola, Everything Everywhere All at Once, and The Disaster Artist, Death of a Unicorn looks to bridge two genres the studio excels at. Unrelated to Peter Dickinson’s 1984 novel of the same name, Death of a Unicorn is shaping up to be a hit for horror and comedy fans.
Since 2023, news has been slowly rolling out about the movie with the unusual and exciting name. So far, it looks like A24 may have once again produced something wildly unique and enjoyable with some of the biggest stars working. Despite the interest in the film, and A24’s trailer, which suggests the movie is far along in post-production, not a lot is known about the movie. Still, a tenuous release date, the cast, and story details for Death of a Unicorn have been revealed.
Death Of A Unicorn Latest News
A Trailer Was Released In December 2024
The latest news for Death of a Unicorn came on December 18, 2024, when the trailer for the film unexpectedly dropped on YouTube, posted by the A24 page.
Death Of A Unicorn Is Confirmed
The Movie Was Confirmed To Be In Production In 2023
In May 2023, it was announced that Jenna Ortega and Paul Rudd would be starring in A Death of a Unicorn directed by Alex Scharfman (via BudapestReporter). Filming began in July 2023 (via KFTV). Though there is no official release date, the film is expected to hit theaters in spring 2024 (via Variety).
Death Of A Unicorn Was Granted A Waiver During The 2023 SAG-AFTRA Strike
A24 Is Not Affiliated With The AMPTP
Filming for Death of a Unicorn began around the same time as the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, but the film was one of 39 productions granted permission to shoot as A24 and other production companies on the list are independent and not tied to AMPTP companies (via Variety). As long as the productions adhered to the terms offered by SAG-AFTRA during negotiations, they were allowed to continue. This would actually help the union’s cause as it would undermine the studio’s talking point that the union’s demands were “unrealistic”.
Death Of A Unicorn Cast
Paul Rudd, Jenna Ortega, And Richard Grant Lead The Cast
Beyond Paul Rudd as Elliot and the A24 scream queen Jenna Ortega as Riley, the rest of the cast for Death of a Unicorn was released in November 2023 (via Deadline). Richard E. Grant as Dell Leopold, Téa Leoni, Will Poulter, Anthony Carrigan, Sunita Mani, Jessica Hynes, and Stephen Park have all been announced, though most of their character names are currently unknown.
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Death Of A Unicorn Cast & Characters |
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|---|---|
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Actor |
Character |
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Raul Rudd |
Elliot |
|
Jenna Ortega |
Riley |
|
Richard E. Grant |
Dell Leopold |
|
Téa Leoni |
Unknown |
|
Will Poulter |
Unknown |
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Anthony Carrigan |
Unknown |
|
Sunita Mani |
Unknown |
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Jessica Hynes |
Unknown |
|
Stephen Park |
Unknown |
Death Of A Unicorn Story Details
The Accidental Death Of A Unicorn Leads To Mayhem
As the title suggests, Death of a Unicorn is about the accidental killing of the mythological creature. Elliot is bringing his daughter to his boss, Dell Leopold’s, management retreat in a remote, opulent cabin, when they accidentally run over and kill a unicorn. At first, they refuse to believe what they’re seeing, but when the healing properties of the unicorn are revealed, Elliot and the Leopolds celebrate the fortune they just stumbled upon. However, when the unicorn’s pack returns, everyone learns that a unicorn adult and a foal are two very different things.
Death Of A Unicorn Trailer
The Movie Is Shooting For A Violent But Hilarious Tone
The Death of a Unicorn trailer revealed quite a bit about the movie, including that it is about unicorns, which was not necessarily assumed previously. The basic gist of the film is shown while The Beach Boys’ “Good Vibrations” plays. Elliot and Riley hit and kill the unicorn and the trailer slowly turns from funny to scary, as it’s revealed the unicorn they hit was only a baby. Its parents are much bigger and much more monstrous looking. Death of a Unicorn is poised to be a gorey and laugh-out-loud affair.
Death of a Unicorn, directed by Alex Scharfman, follows Elliot and his daughter Riley as they accidentally kill a unicorn while traveling to a work retreat. Elliot’s billionaire boss aims to exploit the unicorn’s curative properties, leading to unexpected consequences.
- Cast
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Jenny Ortega
, Paul Rudd
, Will Poulter
, Tea Leoni
, Richard E. Grant
, Anthony Carrigan
, Sunita Mani
, Jessica Hynes
, Steve Park
, Nicholas Wittman
, Narantsogt Tsogtsaikhan
, Christine Grace Szarkó - Director
-
Alex Scharfman
- Release Window
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Spring 2025