A new witch-themed thriller, Forbidden Fruits, has been officially acquired by IFC Films and Shudder for distribution in the U.S. and Canada, Deadline reported Tuesday morning. The film, which is currently in production, promises to be a captivating exploration of sisterhood, power, and the dark side of femininity.
Starring Lili Reinhart, Lola Tung, Victoria Pedretti, Alexandra Shipp, and Emma Chamberlain, Forbidden Fruits centers around a cult of women practicing witchcraft in a mall basement. The group, which convenes after their work shifts, has formed a tight-knit sisterhood. However, their dynamic is disrupted with the arrival of a new recruit, Pumpkin, whose presence challenges the performative nature of their bond and the dangerous allure of their rituals.
Debut Feature from Meredith Alloway
Forbidden Fruits marks the feature directorial debut of Meredith Alloway, who has previously worked on short films and directed Paris Jackson’s 2020 music video. The film’s screenplay is adapted from Lily Houghton’s Off-Broadway play Of the Women Came the Beginning of Sin, and Through Her We All Die. The play, first performed in October 2019, was described as a “dynamic new play about the dangers of commercializing millennial femininity.”
Houghton and Alloway co-wrote the script for the film adaptation, staying true to the thematic core of the original play while expanding it for the big screen.
A Dream Team of Producers
The film is produced by Mason Novick, Trent Hubbard, Mary Anne Waterhouse, and acclaimed screenwriter Diablo Cody. Cody, known for her Oscar-winning work on Juno and more recently Tully, expressed her excitement about the project in a statement to Deadline. “Forbidden Fruits grabbed me by the neck the very first time I read it,” she said. “It’s one of the craziest, most creative, beautifully bonkers projects I’ve ever worked on. I feel so lucky to be collaborating with Meredith and Lily, who have become heroes of mine in short order.”
What’s Next for Forbidden Fruits?
Although an official release date has not yet been confirmed, Forbidden Fruits is expected to hit theaters and streaming platforms in 2026. Fans of the thriller genre and cult classics can anticipate a haunting and compelling story exploring the complexities of femininity and power.
For updates, follow the film’s official Instagram, which recently shared a celebratory video marking the distribution news. As production continues, anticipation for Forbidden Fruits is steadily building.
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