Originating Evil: The Latest Chapter in Joko Anwar’s Gripping Franchise, “Satan's Slaves"

Hold onto your popcorn, folks! Joko Anwar’s captivating horror saga, “Satan's Slaves: Origin”, is about to get all kinds of global with Barunson E&A, the brains behind the Oscar-winning “Parasite”, leading the sales charge. Fans better mark their calendars for this September because this chilling prequel will be unveiled to international buyers at the Toronto Film Festival.

“Satan’s Slaves: Origin” may be the third installment in the bone-chilling franchise, but it's acting as the front door to the series. This intriguing narrative stretches back to the roots of the conspiracy and the sacrifice to the satanic deal that started it all. We're stepping back into the 16th-century, when a wave of collective madness overtook Strasbourg, before taking a frightening leap to a haunted lighthouse on Java’s southern coast in the 17th century. Anwar definitely isn’t pulling any punches with this one-producng his most ambitious work to date, this spine-tingler spans two continents, and features seven languages – Indonesian, Alsatian, Portuguese, Javanese, Dutch, Turkish, and Latin.

Anwar promises the ride of a lifetime, saying, “This film is everything I didn't know I was building toward. It finally reveals where the curse originated, why it can't be stopped, and what its ulterior motives are. Longtime aficionados are in for long-awaited answers, while newbies are buckled in for the roller-coaster ride they never saw coming."

The movie, which is currently in pre-production, is slated for a thrilling 2027 release. With Anwar working his magic as the writer-director, and production by Rapi Films, Sky Media, Come and See Pictures, and Legacy Pictures, it promises to be a blockbuster.

Now, if you think the name "Satan's Slaves" sounds awfully familiar – you’re absolutely right! The brand holds a place of honor in Indonesia's cinematic history. With Rapi Films' 1980 classic, Anwar's 2017 box-office smashing revival, and the 2022's record-breaking “Satan's Slaves: Communion”, the franchise has consistently topped the charts.

This project continues the winning streak of Anwar and Barunson E&A, who previously collaborated on "Ghost in the Cell". Currently, the blockbuster ranks as the runner-up on Indonesia's local box office chart for the year having charmed over 3.3 million movie-goers and secured sales in 150 territories!

Barunson E&A's CEO, Choi Yoonhee, praised the collaboration, stating, "Every time we work with Joko Anwar, the scale gets bigger and the ambition sharper. ‘Satan’s Slaves: Origin’ is utterly unique, threading a tale across centuries and continents. It reaffirms our continued belief - Indonesian filmmakers are creating some of the most audacious genre narratives globally, and we’re overjoyed to help this one make its mark."

And it's not just prestige horrors that Barunson E&A’s has been scoring! It also boasts of remarkable Asian genre achievements with Banjong Pisanthanakun’s “Inherit”, Indonesian zombie thriller “Zona Merah: Dead City” and Korean supernatural thriller “Stoneborn”, from the creators of “Exhuma”. So, fasten your seatbelts, because the thrill ride is going full speed ahead!