Netflix Snaps Up Shark Thriller From Violent Night Director
Netflix has landed Tommy Wirkola’s new shark thriller, produced by Adam McKay and Kevin Messick, starring Phoebe Dynevor, Djimon Hounsou, and Whitney Peak. Streaming release set for 2026.
After two years of whispers and speculation, the much-anticipated shark thriller from Tommy Wirkola has found a new home. Sony Pictures has handed over the rights to Netflix, shifting the project from a planned cinema release to a major streaming debut. The film, which has floated around with working titles like Shiver and Beneath the Storm, was quietly pulled from Sony’s release schedule, clearing the way for producers Adam McKay and Kevin Messick to strike a deal through their HyperObject Industries label.
“We couldn’t be more excited to be back in business with all our friends at Netflix on this film. We had a great experience together on Don’t Look Up and look forward to working with them to make this an event streaming release in 2026,” the producers shared.
Star-Studded Cast Faces Ocean Dangers
While plot details are still under wraps, what’s certain is that the cast is stacked. Phoebe Dynevor, who made waves in Bridgerton, joins forces with Djimon Hounsou of Gladiator fame and Whitney Peak, recently seen in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. The trio are set to take on some seriously dangerous marine predators, though exactly how remains a mystery for now.
Wirkola, best known for his blood-soaked Christmas romp Violent Night, where David Harbour played a tough-as-nails Santa, brings a reputation for blending action and dark humour. His previous credits include Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters and What Happened to Monday, so punters can expect a wild ride when this one finally surfaces.
2026: A Big Year for Shark Films
If you’re keen on survival stories with a bite, 2026 is shaping up to be a bumper year. Not to be outdone, director Renny Harlin—who gave us the cult classic Deep Blue Sea back in 1999—is returning to the genre with Deep Water, set to stream from 1 May. This time, Aaron Eckhart, Kelly Gale, Ben Kingsley, Madeleine West, and Angus Sampson are thrown into the deep end, battling hungry sharks after their flight from Los Angeles to Shanghai is forced to ditch in the ocean.
The official synopsis for Deep Water reads:
“A group of international passengers en route from Los Angeles to Shanghai are forced to make an emergency landing in shark-infested waters. Now they must work together in hopes to overcome the frenzy of sharks drawn to the wreckage.”
Shark Thrillers: From Cult Classics to New Blood
Unlike the genetically modified predators of Deep Blue Sea, Harlin’s latest doesn’t dabble in mad science. In the 1999 film, a team of researchers searching for a cure for Alzheimer’s ends up on the menu when their super-smart mako sharks turn the tables, hunting the humans through flooded corridors. That film starred Thomas Jane, Stellan Skarsgård, Samuel L. Jackson, and Saffron Burrows, and has since become a fan favourite. Oddly enough, Thomas Jane even backed a fan petition in 2023 to change the film’s ending.
With both Wirkola’s untitled project and Harlin’s Deep Water on the horizon, shark fans have plenty to sink their teeth into over the next year. Whether you’re after high-stakes action or just a bit of oceanic mayhem, 2026 is set to deliver.