According to Orphan: First Kill director William Brent Bell, the horror prequel will be extremely violent and brutal, so fans better get ready. First Kill is the long-awaited prequel to 2009 breakout hit Orphan. Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, Orphan followed a grieving couple (Vera Farmiga and Peter Sarsgaard) after they adopt a sweet-looking young girl named Esther (Isabelle Fuhrman). However, Esther is hardly what she seems, leading to dangerous consequences for her new family. Orphan was a surprise box office hit when it was released, grossing $78.8 million on a reported $20 million budget.
Orphan: First Kill went into development in February of last year. This time, Bell (The Boy) will serve as director, working with a script penned by David Coggeshall. Acting as Esther’s origin story, Orphan: First Kill will see her escape from an Estonian psychiatric facility and travel to America while impersonating the missing daughter of a wealthy family. This pits her against a mother who will protect her family at any cost. Fuhrman will once again play Esther, aka Leena Klemmer, for this installment, and she will be joined by new faces Julia Stiles and Rossif Sutherland.
Bell recently sat down with Bloody Disgusting’s podcast The Boo Crew and teased what’s ahead for Orphan: First Kill. In addition to explaining how they kept the 24-year-old Fuhrman looking like a child, Bell hinted at the overall tone of the film. Horror fans will surely rejoice at his promise that First Kill gets “extremely violent” at times, even as it occasionally strikes a childlike tone. Bell said:
“The movie has a very childlike quality in some ways, but it’s also extremely violent at other times. Because she’s a violent psychopath. The movie is turning out just awesome. [Esther] is this very romantic person who so much wants love and then when she doesn’t get it, a different side of her comes out. And it’s brutal. So the movie really plays both of those sides really well. So it has a really big heart for her, but it also has a real… super dark side.”
![Orphan: First Kill Will Be a Brutal & Extremely Violent Prequel, Says Director](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Orphan-First-Kill-Isabelle-Fuhrman.jpg)
The horror genre has evolved since the first Orphan was released, and it will be interesting to see how the new installment matches up with the original. Bell’s comments suggest Orphan: First Kill has a unique tone, and it could be one that gives the film a fascinating edge. Esther is certainly a compelling character – especially since she’s actually an adult woman who only looks like a child – and the prequel can really dig into her early life in a way that enhances the first Orphan.
Right now, Orphan: First Kill is without a release date, but Bell said on the podcast they are in the “final stages” of completing it. Filming took place late last year, with Fuhrman even sharing a bloody picture from the set. This means the movie could perhaps be released later this year. It’s been a while since the original film was released, but Orphan: First Kill could fit in perfectly with this fall’s releases as audiences look for a new thrill ride. Stay tuned for further updates.