Lucy Hale, known for her roles in Truth or Dare and Scream 4, is set to lead the upcoming sci-fi thriller White Mars, a film that draws inspiration from iconic genre heroes such as Ellen Ripley (Alien) and R.J. MacReady (The Thing).
Set at the remote Aquila Research Facility in Antarctica, the story centres on microbiologist Sammie (Hale), who finds herself in a fight for survival as a hostile and enigmatic entity infiltrates the base, threatening to annihilate the entire crew.
The film will be directed by Martin Owen (Above The Below) from a screenplay by Matt Mitchell, Vicki Sargent, and Roo Berry. Principal photography is scheduled to begin on 11 November 2024 at Rome’s Cinecittà Studios, where the production will be filmed entirely using a virtual production pipeline.
White Mars is produced by Matt Williams of Future Artists Entertainment alongside Neil Jones, with Steve Griffith and Steve Jelley producing for Singularity Entertainment.
The film marks the first feature announcement from Singularity Entertainment, a newly launched company focused on virtual production and efficiency-driven filmmaking for the independent market.
Hale’s recent credits include Hulu’s hit feature Which Brings Me To You and the romantic comedy Puppy Love. Her previous work also includes The Hating Game and AMC’s crime drama Ragdoll, in addition to her breakout role in Pretty Little Liars.
Commenting on the project, Hale said:
“White Mars is an intense psychological thrill ride, and I’m incredibly excited to shoot at the Cinecittà studios in Rome. Sammie is a character I deeply admire for her resilience and strength, and I’m looking forward to collaborating with Martin Owen, the cast, and the entire creative team to bring this story to life.”
Producer Matt Williams added:
“This film represents the first in a planned slate with XYZ and Singularity. Our aim is to bring technologically ambitious filmmaking to the independent space, delivering visuals that can stand alongside major studio releases. We’re thrilled to have Lucy leading this high-stakes sci-fi adventure.”
