Actor Akshay Kumar has signed director Kanish Varma's alien thriller 'Samuk'. The film, produced by Vipul Shah and co-produced by Aashin A Shah, is being developed as a large-scale pan-Indian theatrical release for 2027. The producers have said that the film will blend survival horror and alien thriller elements.
Varma, known for 'Sanak', 'Inside Edge' and 'Glory', has spent more than two years developing the film with Shah, according to reports. The upcoming alien thriller also brings in an international technical team, with creature effects designer Alec Gillis attached to design the alien creature and British stunt coordinator Luke Tumber set to oversee the action.
Gillis, an Academy Award-nominated creature effects designer known for work on the 'Alien' and 'Predator' franchises, including 'Alien: Romulus', has joined 'Samuk' to create the alien creature. His credits also include 'Starship Troopers', 'Smile', and 'Tremors'. A veteran of Hollywood creature filmmaking for nearly five decades, he previously worked under Stan Winston on 'Aliens' and the original 'Predator'.
Calling the collaboration distinct, Gillis said, "Working with Kanishk has been fantastic because he genuinely loves practical creature filmmaking. Our goal is to create an alien predator unlike anything audiences have seen before."
The action will be overseen by Luke Tumber, whose credits include 'Mission: Impossible', 'Venom' films, 'Star Wars', 'No Time To Die,' and Marvel’s 'Vision Quest'. A former Royal Marines Commando, Tumber has worked on more than 100 international productions.
