Indie Horror Flick ‘Aladdin: The Monkey’s Paw’ Heads Into Production With Cast Including Ricky Norwood​on April 14, 2025 at 10:16 am

EXCLUSIVE: Cameras start rolling next month in the UK on Aladdin: The Monkey’s Paw, a new feature described as a “dark, supernatural reimagining” of the Aladdin story from Empire Studios, Every Entertainment, and 8th Law Pictures

The film’s synopsis read: A modern-day Londoner, Aladdin, inherits an ancient monkey’s paw believed to grant wishes, only to discover that every desire comes at a soul-crushing price. As those around him fall victim to its curse, he must confront a growing evil — and the demonic force that feeds on every wish made.

Production begins in late May 2025, with principal photography taking place in the UK.

The film stars Nick Sagar (Queen of the South), Ricky Norwood (EastEnders), Montana Manning (Tell Me Everything), and Bradley Stryker (Terrifier 3), who also directs. DOP is Simon Stolland (Marching Powder). 

The film is produced by Charley McDougall (Moon Quake), Jamie McLeod-Ross (The Reckoning), Nick Sagar, and Bradley Stryker. Screenplay by Charley McDougall. Executive Producers are Rustin Matthew, Terry Bird, and Arthur Corber.

“We always wanted to explore horror through a personal lens — not just the scares, but the human cost of wishes,” McDougall said of the film. “This story’s been haunting us for a while, and it’s time to let it loose. The best horror films haunt you long after the credits roll. That’s what this story does. It’s sharp, emotional, and full of dread in all the right ways. We’re not just making another horror film — we’re building a world around a truly iconic concept. The paw, the mythology, the characters — it’s all there.”

Stryker added: “This film will be so much fun — it’s all about the peaks and valleys; the highs of lows of what we deem our dreams and desires… and then we slam that into a genre film in which the stakes have never been more diabolical and entertaining.”