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SDCC 2025: Horror Icon Roy Lee and AWA Explore New Frontiers in Horror

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Kill or Be Killed

Join horror icon and Producer behind iconic hits like Barbarian, the It Franchise, The Ring Franchise, and the upcoming Weapons Roy Lee, AWA Studios President Zach Studin, and acclaimed comic artists Tim Bradstreet and Mike Choi (illustrators on Look Out and Kill or Be Killed, respectively), at their San Diego Comic-Con panel, The Future of Fear: How AWA and Roy Lee’s Vertigo Entertainment Are Exploring New Frontiers in Horror. The panelists will discuss new graphic fiction projects and TV/film developments for The Future of Fear, a chilling new anthology that’s taking horror to new terrifying levels, on Thursday, July 24, 2025, at 7:00 pm PT in Room 7AB.

In a panel moderated by Variety journalist Jordan Moreau, the group will give attendees an inside look into how this collection of stories is redefining the genre for comics, illustrated prose, and screen. Attendees will hear how viral creepypasta, AI paranoia, and deep psychological dread are fueling stories like Look Out and Kill or Be Killed, and get an exclusive look at upcoming titles, the creative vision behind the collection, and how these creators are probing the frontiers of fear to create the next great horror franchises.

Announced in June 2024, this sinister alliance between AWA and Vertigo Entertainment is forging the next era of boundary-pushing horror franchises with The Future of Fear. The collection delivers a chilling lineup of stories crafted by a handpicked team of master storytellers and artists. Designed to haunt fans across every medium—illustrated prose, comics, film, and TV—this collaboration redefines how terrifying tales are discovered, created, and consumed, promising to leave audiences thrilled, shaken, and hungry for more. As the Eisner Award-winning publisher brings each story from The Future of Fear to life through graphic works, Vertigo Entertainment and AWA Studios (the Film & TV division of AWA) are teaming up to co-produce the film and TV adaptations, ensuring these chilling tales make their way to the screen. 

The first installment, Look Out, is available now, and the second title, Kill or Be Killed, will be released on August 20, 2025. Further titles in The Future of Fear collection will be announced and released throughout 2025 and 2026. 

WHO: Roy Lee (Renowned Film Producer and Founder of Vertigo Entertainment), Tim Bradstreet (Artist of LOOK OUT, from The Future of Fear collection), Mike Choi (Artist of KILL OR BE KILLED, from The Future of Fear collection), Zach Studin (President, AWA Studios), Jordan Moreau (Moderator)
WHEN: Thursday, July 24, 2025, from 7:00-8:00 PM PT
WHERE: San Diego Convention Center (Room 7AB)

Kill or Be Killed, a Chilling New Title from AWA and Roy Lee’s Vertigo Entertainment

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The rules are simple: kill a complete stranger and livestream the murder, or lose everything. Just when you thought it was safe to scroll again, Artists Writers and Artisans, Inc. (AWA) and Roy Lee’s Vertigo Entertainment are back to upend your nightmares. The two have revealed Kill or Be Killed, the second spine-tingling release in their The Future of Fear collection. This pulse-pounding illustrated prose one-shot from acclaimed author Peter Tieryas and visionary artist Mike Choi hits shelves and digital platforms on August 20.

In a world where your “friend” notification could be your death sentence, Kill or Be Killed imagines a tech dystopia where social media and AI collide with lethal consequences. When random people begin receiving mysterious messages that threaten the lives of their loved ones—unless they murder a stranger and livestream it for all to see—they become victims of a mysterious serial murderer known as the Friendship Killer. The perpetrator’s sinister game spreads like wildfire until one victim embarks on a search for the murderer that sets him down a twisted road of advanced surveillance tech, deepfake capabilities, and AI horror.

The 48-page novella blends page-turning prose with razor-sharp social commentary, brought chillingly to life through Mike Choi’s haunting illustrations that immerse readers in a near-future world that feels all too real. Following the buzzworthy debut of Look Out, which hit stores on May 7, Kill or Be Killed continues The Future of Fear anthology, a cross-platform horror initiative spanning comics, illustrated prose, and screen adaptations. Titles from the collection are already in development for film and television through AWA Studios and Vertigo Entertainment.

Kill or Be Killed

AWA Partners With Horror Master Roy Lee and Vertigo Entertainment For a New Horror Slate

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AWA Studios and Vertigo Entertainment

Fearsome. Frightening. Formidable. Artists Writers & Artisans, Inc. (AWA) and Vertigo Entertainment have announced they have joined forces to create a range of brand new spine-chilling horror stories. The partnership between the publisher and Roy Lee’s production company will see the collaborative duo originate terrifying stories from a curated group of writers and artists and provide a new way to develop scary stories that excite and thrill fans across illustrated prose, comics, film, and TV. As one of the masters of horror, Lee is best known for producing some of the most scream-worthy horror films and franchises including Barbarian, It, The Grudge, The Ring, Late Night with the Devil, and many more. 

Under this new partnership, AWA and Vertigo Entertainment are building the next generation of horror franchises. AWA will publish the graphic works for each story, while Vertigo Entertainment and AWA Studios, the Film & TV division of AWA, will co-produce the Film and TV adaptations to bring these tales to life on screen. AWA Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer Axel Alonso, and Studios President Zach Studin will partake in a special panel at Tribeca X called “The Future of Fear,” discussing this groundbreaking new partnership, offering a peek behind the bloody curtains of the horror storytelling process. 

The anticipated Nimona gets an official teaser trailer

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A new hero takes shape. Nimona only on Netflix June 30, 2023.

Eight years ago, Fox Animation announced an animated adaptation of the graphic novel Nimona by ND Stevenson. Starting as a webcomic in June 2012 the series was also Stevenson’s senior thesis at Maryland Institute College of Art. The rights for a film were acquired by Fox Animation in June 2015 to be produced by Blue Sky Studios. The film was to be released February 14, 2020.

After the acquisition of Fox by Disney, the film was announced that it’d finally be released in January 2022. But, the film was canceled after Disney shut down Blue Sky. It came out that Disney had issues with a same-sex kiss in the film which may have lead to its cancelation.

In 2021, Netflix teamed with Annapurna Pictures to revive Nimona. After a long journey, we finally have our first look. Animation is by DNEG Animation with Blue Sky veterans directors Nick Bruno and Troy Quane. Roy Lee, Karen Ryan, and Julie Zackary are producing, with Robert L. Baird, Megan Ellison, and Andrew Millstein on board as executive producers.

Netflix’s official synopsis for the film reads:

A Knight is framed for a crime he didn’t commit and the only person who can help him prove his innocence is Nimona, a shape-shifting teen who might also be a monster he’s sworn to kill. Set in a techno-medieval world unlike anything animation has tackled before, this is a story about the labels we assign to people and the shapeshifter who refuses to be defined by anyone.

The film stars Chloë Grace Moretz as titular protagonist Nimona, Riz Ahmed as Ballister Boldheart, and Eugene Lee Yang as Ambrosius Goldenloin.

Nimona Heads to Netflix

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Nimona

Seven years ago, Fox Animation announced an animated adaptation of the graphic novel Nimona by ND Stevenson The rights for a film were acquired by Fox Animation in June 2015 to be produced by Blue Sky Studios. The film was to be released February 14, 2020. Starting as a webcomic in June 2012 the series was also Stevenson’s senior thesis at Maryland Institute College of Art.

After the acquisition of Fox by Disney, the film was announced that it’d finally be released in January 2022. But, the film was canceled after Disney shut down Blue Sky. It came out recently that Disney had issues with a same-sex kiss in the film.

Now, we get some good news. Early last year, Netflix teamed with Annapurna Pictures to revive Nimona. Animation is underway by DNEG Animation with Blue Sky veterans directors Nick Bruno and Troy Quane. Roy Lee, Karen Ryan, and Julie Zackary are producing, with Robert L. Baird, Megan Ellison, and Andrew Millstein on board as executive producers.

The film is set to be released in 2023.

Netflix’s official synopsis for the film reads:

A Knight is framed for a crime he didn’t commit and the only person who can help him prove his innocence is Nimona, a shape-shifting teen who might also be a monster he’s sworn to kill. Set in a techno-medieval world unlike anything animation has tackled before, this is a story about the labels we assign to people and the shapeshifter who refuses to be defined by anyone.

Some casting has been announced including Chloë Grace Moretz as titular protagonist Nimona, Riz Ahmed as Ballister Boldheart, and Eugene Lee Yang as Ambrosius Goldenloin.

Archie Comics Movie Announced

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archie comicsArchie Comics is proud to announce that Warner Bros. Pictures will be producing a live-action Archie movie based on the Archie Comics characters. This is the first feature film starring the Riverdale gang in the publisher’s 72 year history.

Jason Moore will direct a script by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, who is hot off writing Archie Meets Glee, the highly publicized comic book crossover with the popular FOX TV series on which Aguirre-Sacasa serves as writer/producer. Aguirre-Sacasa will also be penning the forthcoming zombie series Afterlife With Archie that was previously announced by Deadline in March.

Roy Lee and Dan Lin will produce, while Jon Goldwater, Krishnan Menon, and Jon Silk will serve as Executive Producers. Details on the story reveal it will be a “high school comedy based on the original line of Archie Comics set in present day Riverdale”.

“We are thrilled to be working with Warner Bros. on this project and have complete faith in their ability to bring Archie to the big screen in a way the fans will love,” said Archie Comics Publisher/Co-CEO Jon Goldwater. “Having Roberto write and Jason direct is Archie’s ‘Dream Team.’ Also, without Dan, Roy, Krish, and Jon, we could not have made this happen.”

“Jason [Moore] and I have been friends for a long time, and this is a complete passion project for everyone involved, ” Aguirre-Sacasa said, “Archie is the ultimate teenager and this movie will be the ultimate teenage movie-in the grand tradition of Sixteen Candles and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. We are so grateful to Jon [Goldwater] for inviting us to this dance.”