Lupita Nyong’o and Josh Gad have joined the cast of Little Monsters, a zombie comedy by writer/director Abe Forsythe (Down Under). The horror genre is rising again after being relegated for years. This triumphant comeback is, in big part, thanks to the success of films like Get Out and IT, which not only succeeded in the box office but also with critics and audiences.

For years, horror films have incorporated elements from other genres resulting in sub genres such as comedy horror and sci-fi horror, keeping the horror genre alive and expanding to wider audiences. Comedy horror has had many hits in the last years, with films like Zombieland and What We Do in the Shadows, so it’s not surprising that more directors are turning to this sub-genre. One of the latest comedy horror projects is that of Abe Forsythe’s Little Monsters, a zombie rom-com that has now found its leads.

Related: 2017 is Officially the Biggest Year for Horror Movies

According to Deadline, Nyong’o and Gad will star in Little Monsters alongside Alexander England, who has previously worked with Forsythe in Down Under. The film is being produced by Snoot Entertainment and Made Up Stories, with Forsythe writing the script. Production is said to have already started in Sydney, with Screen Australia and Create NSW backing the project.

Little Monsters follows Dave (England), a washed-up musician who goes with his nephew on a school-trip to spend time with his teacher, Miss Caroline (Nyong’o), as he has a crush on her. Dave’s plans complicate when Teddy McGiggle (Gad), the world’s most famous kids show personality shows up and has also set his eyes on Miss Caroline. To make matters more complicated, a sudden zombie outbreak interrupts their competition, forcing them to protect the children.

Forsythe recently directed the Australian comedic crime drama Down Under and has worked in various TV shows in Australia. In addition to that, Forsythe has also done acting work in several TV projects and mini-series. Little Monsters joins other recent comedy horror films centering on zombie outbreaks and children, such as Cooties, and zombie rom-coms like Life After Beth and Warm Bodies.

While both Nyong’o and Gad have taken part in fantasy films – Nyong’o in the new Star Wars trilogy and Marvel’s Black Panther, and Gad in Beauty and the Beast – Little Monsters will be an interesting change of pace for both. Although not every comedy horror film has been successful, it will be interesting to see how Little Monsters develops and the amount of comedy and horror it will bring.

NEXT: Edgar Wright Reveals His Top 100 Horror Movies

Source: Deadline