One of the latest trends in horror filmmaking has been the reinterpretation of classic characters as horror villains. Now the legendary character Popeye the Sailor Man is being reimagined as Popeye the Slayer Man, as you can see in the red band trailer shared below.
The new trailer reintroduces Popeye as a violent version of the character played by actor Jason Stephens. Other cast members include Sean Michael Conway, Elena Juliano, Mabel Thomas, Marie-Louise Boisnier, Jeff Thomas, and Steven McCormack, as well as Angela Relucio and Sarah Nicklin.
Robert Michael Ryan directed the film which was written by John Doolan. Jeff Miller, Cuyle Carvin, and Robert Michael Ryan were all involved with the story of the film. Here’s the official red band trailer for Popeye the Slayer Man:
As shared via Bloody-Disgusting, the film will also utilize practical effects rather than CGI, with producer Jeff Miller having shared the following statement:
“We can’t wait for audiences to get a load of this gory and scary version of Popeye,” Miller reveals. “We went old-school and focused on using real practical effects, and not relying on CG for the gore. We’re talking with very enthusiastic and interested buyers now.”
In a world where Terrifier 3 broke records at the box office, it isn’t surprising that more gruesome slasher films are making their way to theaters and home video. Especially when considering the success of other titles like Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey.
Stay tuned to ScreenGeek for any additional updates regarding Popeye the Slayer Man and other upcoming horror projects as we have them. This is certainly another interesting example of using a classic character that has fallen into the public domain. It’s a trend that so far hasn’t shown any sign of going away, so perhaps these films will only continue to improve and connect with audiences.