Jared Harris to star in Hammer's The Quiet Ones

Mad Men star Jared Harris is to star in Hammer’s latest horror/thriller The Quiet Ones.

Harris, who recently starred as Moriarty in Sherlock Holmes; A Game Of Shadows, will play an unorthodox professor who makes his students take part in a dangerous experiment to create a poltergeist from negative human energy. He will next be seen in Spielberg’s Lincoln, which is currently in post.

Based on true events which took place in Canada in the 70s, the supernatural thriller is being directed John Pogue from an original screenplay by Tom De Ville, with revisions by Craig Rosenberg and Oren Moverman and John Pogue.

The film is currently in pre-production and will start shooting on June 19 in the UK. Shooting will take place at a studio in the UK and on location in Oxford.

James Gay-Rees is producing in association with TPSC films, with Exclusive Media’s president of worldwide production & acquisitions, Tobin Armbrust overseeing production alongside director of development, Shira Rockowitz.

Exclusive is handling international sales on the project.

Simon Oakes, president & CEO of Hammer, told Screen that the project was one of the first scripts acquired by Hammer after the company relaunched and was championed by Tobin Armbrust from the start.

“It’s about making sure we have a strong slate and we develop it in the right time. Momentum is everything in a film company, because you are only as good as your last hit,” said Oakes, who is hoping the film will have a similar appeal to The Woman In Black.

“It’s got the same demographic. By making elevated genre we hope we appeal to as broad an audience as possible. We don’t make slasher movies.”

“It was important for us to make this movie in the UK and to celebrate the Britishness of the brand. Hammer is a legendary British brand and that’s the way we intend to keep it,” added Oakes.

On casting Harris, Oakes said: “We are huge fans of Jared’s and have watched his career grow and evolve. He has that feeling of menace about him.”

Hammer recently announced that it is also developing a follow up to The Woman In Black, based on a new original story by author Susan Hill.