A thriller led by Bridgerton star Phoebe Dynevor is heading straight to Netflix after its originally planned theatrical release under Sony Pictures was quietly scrapped. The yet-untitled feature is directed by Tommy Wirkola and is now set to premiere on the streaming platform later this year.
The film also stars Whitney Peak and Djimon Hounsou, with Adam McKay and Kevin Messick on board as producers. While specific story details remain under wraps, earlier reports have suggested that the project, previously titled Shiver, involves sharks.
Sony had initially lined up the film for a big-screen debut on August 1, 2025. The studio later revised the release schedule, pushing it to July 3, 2026, before ultimately opting to abandon a theatrical rollout altogether. The project’s move to Netflix comes under Sony’s first-look agreement for titles intended for direct-to-streaming release.
The shift coincides with Sony and Netflix strengthening their partnership. Earlier this week, the two companies extended their collaboration through a global Pay-1 licensing deal, allowing Sony’s theatrical releases to stream on Netflix worldwide after completing their cinema and home entertainment runs.
Sony and Netflix have previously enjoyed success with joint ventures, most notably Sony Pictures Animation’s The Mitchells vs. the Machines, which is now getting a sequel. More recent titles tied to the deal include 3000 Pictures’ People We Meet on Vacation and Sony Pictures Animation’s K-Pop Demon Hunters, the latter currently holding the title of Netflix’s most-watched film to date.
Director Tommy Wirkola is best known for genre-driven films such as Dead Snow, Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters and What Happened to Monday. He is also set to return to theatres later this year with Violent Night 2, the sequel to his 2022 holiday action film, which will be released by Universal Pictures on December 4, with David Harbour reprising his role as Santa Claus. Dynevor, who rose to global prominence with Netflix’s Bridgerton, has since appeared in films like Fair Play and Anniversary.
