Skip to main content

‘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!

Connect with Midwest Movie Maker on Facebook , Instagram and LinkedIn
… and don’t forget to subscribe to the Midwest Movie Maker newsletter

Comments

Popular Posts

Everything we know about ‘Eenie Meanie’ on set in Cleveand, Toledo and Sandusky

Samara Weaving as Edie in 'Eenie Meanie' Before James Gunn and the cast and crew of Superman took over Cleveland, another star-studded feature film was laying claim to the sights and sounds and gritty streets of Northeast Ohio: Shawn Simmons Eenie Meanie , debuting today on Hulu. While both films tell the tale of a misunderstood hero just trying to live an honest life, each production brought an entirely different vibe to Cleveland’s neighborhoods. And I say this from personal experience. As a cinephile working downtown during Superman ’s shoot, getting a peek behind the scenes was an exercise in watching from a distance, peering through second-story grocery store windows, or finding hidden spots in parking decks looking over Progressive Field. Eenie Meanie ? Well, all you had to do was ask, and the crew would point you to a good spot on set to watch the action. The set was so open and friendly on the one day I went exploring in Ohio City, I was too self-conscious to take pictu...

Chris Pine and Jenny Slate shooting 'Carousel' in Akron, Cleveland

Chris Pine and Jenny Slate set to star in 'Carousel' Actor Chris Pine was recently spotted at Akron-Canton Airport filming scenes for his new project, Carousel . Local news outlets confirmed the title with Christian McCauley, the airport’s marketing and communications manager. Joining Pine is Jenny Slate , who has her own connection to the region after shooting My Blind Brother in Cleveland a few years ago. Information about the project is scarce, but a little sleuthing suggests Carousel is based on a well-regarded screenplay from writer-director Rachel Lambert . Lambert is best known for the drama Sometimes I Think About Dying , starring Daisy Ridley, which premiered at Sundance in 2023.  Lambert's films often center on intimacy, vulnerability, and the small details of human connection, suggesting Carousel will be more of a character-driven drama than a flashy studio picture. Writer/director Rachel Lambert on the set of 'Sometimes I Think About Dying' What we k...

Mike Judge's 'Automated Trucking' one of several films awarded tax credits for 2025

Mike Judge and Alec Berg, creators of 'Automated Trucking' >>> Automated Trucking , a new comedy feature from Mike Judge, creator of Office Space , Beavis and Butthead , and King of the Hill , will shoot in Ohio this year - but where in Ohio is the real question. Automated Trucking 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.  The newly launched Ohio Film & Theater Capital Improvements Tax Credit Program (OFATCI) will provide more than $7.3 million to support capital improvements for film and theater production. "Our film tax credits bring producers and stars to Ohio, and they create opportunities for the local businesses, skilled trades, and creatives already here," said Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Department of Development. "The expansion of film in...