Blumhouse Horror Movie ‘Imaginary’ Rounds Out Cast With Tom Payne, Betty Buckley and More (EXCLUSIVE)

The Walking Dead actor Tom Payne and Broadway veteran Betty Buckley have joined the cast of Blumhouses next movie Imaginary, a horror-thriller led by DeWanda Wise.

Taegen Burns (The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers), Pyper Braun (Desperation Road), Matthew Sato (High School Musical: The Musical: The Series) and Veronica Falcn (Jungle Cruise) will round out the cast.

Lionsgate is releasing the film on March 8, 2024. It wrapped production before the writers and actors strikes so it will arrive in theaters as planned, unlike several projects that were forced to pause for months on end.

Imaginary was directed by Jeff Wadlow from a script he co-wrote with Greg Erb and JasonOremland. The story centers on Jessica (Wise), who moves back into her childhood home with her family. When her stepdaughter Alice (Braun) develops a concerning attachment to the stuffed bear, Chauncey, she finds in the basement, Jessica becomes concerned with the young girls behavior. Jessica intervenes only to realize Chauncey is much more than the stuffed toy bear she believed him to be.

Lionsgate and Blumhouse recently released a creepy, innovative in-theaters-only teaser for Imaginary, which asks viewers to keep their eyes shut. The films official trailer will debut in the coming days.

Payne, best known for The Walking Dead and Prodigal Son, will next star in director Kevin Costners two-part epicHorizon: An American Saga. He is represented by UTA, Curtis Brown Group, Authentic Talent and Literary Management, and Felker Toczek Suddleson Abramson McGinnis Ryan.

Burnspreviously led the cast of The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers and will soon appear in Blue Ridge, opposite Jonathan Schaech. She is represented by A3 Artists Agency and LBI Entertainment.

Braun was recently in the film Desperation Roadand currently appears on the television series Erin Aaron. Shevoices the lead and several othercharacters in the animated show Superkitties. Pyper is represented by CESD, Dream Talent Management, and Meyer Downs.

Satos credits include High School Musical: The Musical: The Series and Doogie Kamealoha, M.D. He is set to star in the featurePatsy Lee the Keepers of the 5 Kingdoms. He is represented by Amsel, Eisenstadt, Frazier Hinojosa Talent Agency (AEFH) and Luber Rocklin Entertainment.

Falcn acted opposite Dwayne Johnson and Emily Bluntin DisneysJungle Cruiseand alongside Matthew Rhys in the HBO seriesPerry MasonHer other credits include Netflixs Ozark and the upcoming films includeAmerican Underdog,opposite Danny Trejo. She is represented by Independent Artist Group and Art2perform.

Buckley is the Tony-winning star of Broadway shows like Cats, Sunset Boulevard, Triumph of Love and 1776. She is represented by Donald Birge at Stewart Talent, attorney Jay L. Cooper and Rick Miramontez at DKCOM PR.