Working, amirite? James Gunn’s newest feature, the MGM action-horror-comedy feature The Belko Experiment, looks to take that sentiment and blow it the hell out, so that you finally appreciate the charms of going to a regular old office every single day and not having to worry about being murdered by your coworkers.
The Belko Experiment (once known as American Belco and The Belco Experiment) was announced just last month, when it was revealed that Gunn would be retrofitting an older script of his for the new feature. Gunn himself wrote that the film “revolves around the American Belco company in South America, which is mysteriously sealed off at the beginning of a work day, and its employees are ordered to kill each other or be killed themselves. This starts an escalation of violence, where we discover the true nature of each and every Belco employee.”
Gunn will write and produce the feature, which will be directed by Wolf Creek helmer Greg McLean, so you know things are going to get squishy.
The film has now started assembling its cast and Gunn, who loves to share stuff on his Facebook page, took to the social media behemoth to share the news that John Gallagher, Jr. (of Short Term 12 and The Newsroom fame) will star in the feature as a character named Mike Pelk. Although Gunn did not offer up any other details, I am willing to guess that poor Mike Pelk will be on of the Belco—sorry, Belko—minions tasked with offing his office pals.
If that is the case, Gallagher will then go up against Tony Goldwyn, who has also joined the project. Per Deadline, “Goldwyn will play Barry Norris, the COO of the Belko Corporation who is used to being in charge at the Belko Building in South America.” So, the bad guy? Probably?
Gunn has previously promised that the film will be in line with his earlier horror features (so, both super-gross and very funny), and the film’s plotline sounds like just the kind of thing to lend itself to that wicked blend. Now go make some copies and think about how your life is nice.
The Belko Experiment will start filming in Colombia in June.