Even as the film industry is in something of a perilous, unpredictable place, the horror genre continues to go from strength to strength, having enjoyed something of a resurgence at the box office in recent years even as other genres struggle to bring the audiences in.
This, combined with the sheer high caliber of horror fare being produced by A24 and Neon in particular, makes it hardly surprising that so many actors are now getting involved with the genre despite previously seeming to avoid it.
Horror can of course be so much more than mere jump scares and gore shots – it can provide a surreal, heightened canvas for actors to dig deep into their characters and truly swing for the fences.
And throughout 2025, these actors – all of them better known for their work in the comedy and drama genres – are set to star in horror films.
From comedy legends to one of the most celebrated dramatic performers of all time, these actors are all trying their hand at horror for the first time in years, decades, perhaps even ever, and it sure looks like they’re going to be a mighty match for it…
Though Paul Rudd began his career with the infamous horror sequel Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers, he’s largely steered clear of the genre for the last three decades.
But that’s all set to change this year, as the Marvel funnyman will appear in not just one but two horror projects.
First up, Rudd will star opposite veritable scream queen Jenna Ortega in A24’s Death of a Unicorn – a black comedy in which a man (Rudd) and his daughter (Ortega) accidentally hit a unicorn with their car, causing all hell to break loose.
And at year’s end, Rudd will co-star with Jack Black in a reboot of the Anaconda franchise, which per its stars will unsurprisingly be taking a more comedic approach to the creature feature IP, albeit with an apparently grisly, R-rated bent.
Given that Rudd has been on the four-quadrant tentpole conveyor-belt for a while now, it sure will be nice to see him doing something totally different.
Death of a Unicorn releases on March 28 and Anacanda is set to bow on December 25.
