The man behind Art the Clown is moving to the big leagues. Damien Leone, the writer-director of the Terrifier franchise, has signed a deal with Lionsgate for his next horror project. The movie is called Tortures of the Damned. And he is bringing a horror legend along for the ride. Sam Raimi, the director of the original Evil Dead movies and the Spider-Man trilogy, will produce the film.
The announcement came on May 29, 2026, through The Hollywood Reporter and later confirmed by Variety. For fans of ultra-gory, practical-effect horror, this is a major event. Leone built the Terrifier movies outside the Hollywood system. Now, one of the biggest studios in the world is backing his original idea.
Leone Makes the Jump From Micro-Budget to Studio Movie
Damien Leone earned the nickname “micro-budget king” for a good reason. The first Terrifier movie cost only $35,000 to make. Terrifier 2 had a budget of $250,000. Even Terrifier 3, which became a box office hit in October 2024, only cost $3 million. That film went on to earn $90 million globally. Leone wrote, directed, edited, did the visual effects, and even helped with sound design on those movies.
Tortures of the Damned will be very different. The budget will be much larger. Lionsgate is putting real money behind Leone’s vision. The studio president Erin Westerman made it clear how excited they are about the project.
“We’re incredibly proud and excited to be partnering with Damien Leone on his first original film after the beloved Terrifier series,” Westerman said. “I join the huge contingency of horror fans — and Damien fans — inside Lionsgate who have been following his work and cheering him on. Damien is a true genre auteur with a singular vision, and we’re thrilled to help bring this bold new project to the screen while continuing to build on the incredible connection he has with fans around the world.”
Leone will write, direct, and produce Tortures of the Damned. This will be his first movie that does not feature Art the Clown since 2016’s Frankenstein Vs. The Mummy.
Sam Raimi Joins as Producer Through Ghost House
The partnership with Sam Raimi and his longtime producing partner Rob Tapert adds serious weight to the project. Raimi started his career exactly like Leone. He made the first Evil Dead movie with almost no money outside of Detroit. That film became a cult classic and launched Raimi’s career. Now he is helping another independent horror filmmaker take the same path.
Raimi and Tapert will produce Tortures of the Damned through their Ghost House Pictures label. Ghost House has produced horror hits like The Grudge, 30 Days of Night, and Don’t Breathe. Raimi is already working with Lionsgate on a remake of the classic horror film Magic.
Romel Adam and Jose Cañas will oversee the project for Ghost House as executive producers. Scott O’Brien and Pavan Kalidindi will handle things for Lionsgate.
The Story Remains a Mystery for Now
Lionsgate and Leone are keeping the plot of Tortures of the Damned completely under wraps. No one knows what the movie is about. But the title gives some clues. “Tortures of the Damned” suggests a hellish, possibly supernatural setting. Given Leone’s track record, fans can expect creative and intense practical gore effects.
Sources close to the project told The Hollywood Reporter that the movie will be “different in tone from Terrifier”. That does not mean it will be less scary. It might mean Leone is trying something new. He has proven he can do slasher horror better than almost anyone. Now he might be moving into supernatural or religious horror territory.
The Movie Will Come After Terrifier 4
Tortures of the Damned is not Leone’s immediate priority. He is currently deep in pre-production on Terrifier 4. That film will be the final chapter in the Art the Clown saga. Leone has said this movie will finally reveal the origin of Art and explain where the demonic clown actually came from.
Terrifier 4 will take place around New Year’s Eve. The first two movies were set during Halloween. Terrifier 3 took place during Christmas. Leone joked on Instagram that Art is “bringing in the New Year” with the fourth film.
“The script is very close to completion, and I’m hoping to begin pre-production this Spring,” Leone said in an earlier update. “This is the most precious script I’ve written for many reasons, but it’s also the most challenging. There’s a lot of material to tackle and a lot riding on this one, not just creatively but emotionally.”
David Howard Thornton, who plays Art the Clown, will return for the fourth movie. But Thornton has expressed doubt that Terrifier 4 will truly be the end. He suggested Leone might give the franchise a rest for a few years and then return to it later. Leone himself has acknowledged that slasher franchises never really stay dead.
Once Terrifier 4 is finished, Leone will turn all his attention to Tortures of the Damned. The movie does not have a release date yet. Casting has not been announced. Given that Terrifier 4 is still in pre-production, fans will likely have to wait until 2027 or later to see Leone and Raimi’s collaboration.
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A Meeting of Two Horror Generations
The partnership between Damien Leone and Sam Raimi makes perfect sense. Both filmmakers built their careers on practical effects and pushing the boundaries of what horror can show on screen. Raimi’s Evil Dead movies were banned in multiple countries for their gore. Leone’s Terrifier movies have shocked audiences worldwide with their brutal kill scenes.
Raimi has not directed a horror movie since Drag Me to Hell in 2009. He has been busy with superhero movies like Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. But producing Tortures of the Damned allows him to stay connected to the genre he helped define. For Leone, having Raimi’s name attached brings credibility and opens doors for future projects.
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