It’s Official: A ‘Dead by Daylight’ Movie Is in the Works at Blumhouse!

The upcoming film adaptation of the popular horror game Dead by Daylight has taken a major step forward. According to Variety, Blumhouse, Atomic Monster, and game developer Behaviour Interactive have chosen Icelandic filmmaker Thordur Palsson to direct the project.

The announcement arrives as Dead by Daylight celebrates its tenth anniversary. The game has become one of the most successful multiplayer horror titles of the last decade, building a huge global audience and expanding far beyond its original release.

Dead by Daylight first launched in 2016 for Windows PC before later expanding to PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and newer console platforms. Over the years, the game has attracted more than 60 million players worldwide. While reviews at launch were mixed, the title steadily grew in popularity and developed a loyal fanbase thanks to regular updates and new content.

The game follows a simple but tense formula. Five players enter a match, with one player controlling a killer while the other four play as survivors. The survivors must work together to repair generators and escape the area, while the killer hunts them down before they can get away. The action takes place under the control of a mysterious supernatural force known as the Entity.

When the game debuted, players could choose from three original killers. The Trapper used deadly bear traps to catch victims, The Wraith could disappear from sight and move unseen, and The Hillbilly terrorized survivors with a chainsaw. Since then, dozens of new killers have joined the roster, including characters inspired by famous horror movies, television shows, and video games.

Palsson brings experience in both television and horror to the project. According to Variety, he is best known for creating and directing The Valhalla Murders, Iceland’s first Netflix original series, which premiered in 2020. He also directed the horror feature The Damned, which received a wide theatrical release in early 2025. In addition, he is currently working on Avalanche, a four-part miniseries centered on a meteorologist who returns to her hometown to warn residents about an approaching disaster.

The filmmakers behind the adaptation believe Palsson is the right person to bring the game’s world to theaters. Jason Blum, founder and CEO of Blumhouse and Atomic Monster, spoke about the decision in a statement shared by Variety.

“There is no better moment than the tenth anniversary to share this news. Thordur is the filmmaker we trust to carry Dead by Daylight from the screen you play on to the big screen you watch in theaters.”

The movie is part of a growing Dead by Daylight franchise that now extends well beyond gaming. The property has already inspired spin-off video games, comic book series, and a physical board game. The film adaptation is expected to become the franchise’s biggest expansion yet.

Plot details for the movie have not been revealed, and no casting announcements have been made. However, with a director now attached and production moving ahead, fans of the long-running horror game are one step closer to seeing the terrifying world of Dead by Daylight brought to the big screen.

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