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‘Too Many Cooks’ creator shooting horror feature ‘Arnie’ in Cleveland this summer

AI imagines the characters from 'Arnie' >>  

The next juicy horror feature is about to creep onto the streets of Cleveland, and it comes from Chris “Casper” Kelly, creator of the cult classic Too Many Cooks.

The feature, Arnie, is tentatively shooting from July through August in the Cleveland area, according to a casting call from Angela Boehm Casting. (It's a live-action film. We don't want our AI interpretation confuse you!)

Arnie was one of 14 projects awarded more than $26 million of $33 million in tax credits from the Ohio Department of Development’s Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit Program (OMPTC) aimed at boosting production and infrastructure across the state. Northeast Ohio’s Low Spark Films will produce.

Filmmaker Casper Kelly

Who is Casper Kelly?

Kelly is an American writer, director, and producer known for his work in television and film. His work often blends humor, horror and absurdity.

He gained attention with the viral short Too Many Cooks and has directed short films like Adult Swim Yule Log and Adult Swim Yule Log 2: Branchin' Out. Kelly also created the Emmy-nominated Your Pretty Face is Going to Hell.

Kelly has written for several Adult Swim series, as well, including Squidbillies, Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law, and Aqua Teen Hunger Force. In 2023, Kelly’s Star Trek: Very Short Treks debuted on Paramount+. The series celebrated the 50th anniversary of Star Trek: The Animated Series.

And he’s conquered the publishing world, too, writing a collection of short stories titled More Stories About Spaceships and Cancer, which debuted in 2012.

An imagined scene from 'Arnie' based on character descriptions

Who are They Casting?

The project is a bit hush-hush, but here’s what we know so far. A list of character descriptions was included in Angela Boehm Casting’s official call for child actors, which could provide some clues. Here are the characters that stood out:
  • Freddy: A sensitive girl with a huge heart and a big fear of standing out. The kind who would run toward the scary noise in the woods because she had to make sure nobody was hurt.
  • Hannah: A theater kid who sings, dances, and brings dramatic flair to everything she touches.
  • Josh: Quiet, bookish, sci-fi nerd — the reluctant adventurer you root for when things get weird.
  • Wade: The cool, confident kid who’s a little too brave for his own good.
  • Oliver: A wide-eyed believer who seems just a little too devoted to... someone.
  • Derek: The sporty older brother.
  • Timothy: The superhero-obsessed youngest sibling.
The film is described as ultimately about conquering fears, though it will include all the bloody thrills and chills one would expect from a horror movie. Maybe a cross between IT and The Goonies?

We’ll keep an eye out for more updates as production draws closer and share them when we can!

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