Cool news out of author Brian Keene’s camp. A movie adaptation of Keene’s dark and hyper-violent book The Cage,  finds director, cast, and F/X squad. Now they’re looking for the money necessary to bring the story of THE CAGE to fruition.

To be directed by Jon D. Wagner (D: Anniversary At Shallow Creek, P: All Cheerleader’s Die, Cheap Thrills), and produced by Brian James Fitzpatrick (Spring Breakers, London Fields), from a script written by Ted Rypel, and based on a story of the same name written by Bram Stoker Award-winning author, Brian Keene, The Cage has begun to assemble it’s cast:  Zach Galligan, (Gremlins, Hatchet 3); Damian Maffei, (Joe R. Lansdale’s Christmas With The Dead);  Hannah Fierman, (V/H/S);  Megan Duffy, (Maniac);  Samantha Hahn, (Blood Night: The Legend Of Mary Hatchet); and Sam Ingraffia, (The Falcon And The Snowman).  Adding their talents to The Cage with imaginative special F/X are Emmy nominated (Boardwalk Empire) Jeremy Selenfriend, and Monster in My Closet F/X (The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Chernobyl Diaries, NBC’s The Blacklist).

Zach Galligan? From Gremlins? I’m definitely on board. This sounds awesome!

The Cage team has opened a Kickstarter page to raise the $85,000 they need to mount the production. Contributions to the project will be rewarded with various perks ranging from an adorable $1 package, to posters, t-shirts, DVDs, Blu-rays, autographed Keene books, featured parts (victim and non-victims!) and some other very, very fun stuff.

Anyone familiar with Keene’s work is no doubt excited about this news, and so is the author himself. “I’m thrilled with the screenplay and excited by the team that’s been assembled.” says Keene, “It’s always a daunting prospect when your work is adapted by others for another medium, but I have absolute confidence and belief in this project and the people involved. I can’t wait to see it!”

And director Jon D. Wagner is definitely speaking the horror movie community’s language. “Myself and everyone involved feel a great responsibility to do this intense, mind bender of a film “right”, adds Wagner.  “Not just for ourselves, but for all the different groups of fans out there who expect us to do good by them. There’s no stunt casting, no gimmicks.  Just good, talented folks who are thrilled to be doing this movie.”

Check out The Cage’s official website (www.survivethecage.com).

What do you think about seeing a movie adaptation of The Cage?