Sydney Sweeney’s ‘Hollow’ Casts Belmont Cameli as Brom Bones in New Adaptation

Washington Irving’s headless horseman has appeared in numerous adaptations, including Disney’s animated ‘The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad’, Tim Burton’s Johnny Depp-led ‘Sleepy Hollow‘, and a Fox series that ran for four seasons. Hollywood continues to explore this classic tale, and the latest casting news for ‘Hollow’ adds exciting developments to this unique reimagining.

‘Hollow’ is Sony’s fresh take on ‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow’, inspired by an upcoming novel of the same name by Lindsey Anderson Beer. Sydney Sweeney stars in the film, while Beer is both writing and directing, marking her debut adaptation. Reports indicate that Sony swiftly secured the project amidst strong competition.

The film has now cast its Brom Bones, with Belmont Cameli set to join Sweeney in this adaptation. Sources informed Deadline that Cameli will portray the iconic antagonist from Irving’s story.

The narrative unfolds from the viewpoint of Katrina Van Tassel, a role Sweeney will embody. Instead of being merely a romantic interest, the novel positions her as the central figure in a perilous mystery and a captivating supernatural love triangle, subverting traditional storytelling.

This adaptation combines gothic elements, psychological depth, and erotic thriller aspects, offering a modern twist on the classic tale. In the original story, Katrina is the object of affection between the superstitious schoolmaster Ichabod Crane and his rival, Brom Bones. Thus, the casting of Brom is particularly significant.

The role of Ichabod Crane remains unfilled, as producers continue their search, while Cameli has quickly secured the role of Brom.

Cameli is currently experiencing a surge in popularity. He stars as Garrett Graham, the captain of the Briar University hockey team, in Prime Video’s ‘Off Campus’, which attracted 36 million viewers within its first 12 days of streaming.

He has also appeared in ‘Until Dawn’ and ‘The Alto Knights’. His schedule is packed; when he spoke to WWD in May, he was preparing to return to Vancouver to film the second season of ‘Off Campus’.

The timing of the ‘Hollow’ offer aligns well with Sweeney’s busy agenda. Producers acted quickly to cast the two leads at the heart of the love triangle, considering her commitments. Sweeney was last seen in ‘The Housemaid’, a box office hit that has led to a sequel, ‘The Housemaid’s Secret’.

Behind the scenes, Beer boasts a strong track record in streaming successes. She previously directed ‘Pet Sematary: Bloodlines’, which set viewership records for Paramount+. Additionally, she wrote and executive produced ‘Sierra Burgess Is a Loser’, which debuted at No. 1 globally on Netflix.

LuckyChap is producing alongside Beer’s Lab Brew banner and Sweeney, who is producing through her new Honey Trap banner. ‘Hollow’ marks Honey Trap’s first film as a producer, and the company has recently secured a first-look deal with Sony Pictures, giving them significant creative control over the project.

Sony has a history with Sweeney, who starred in the studio’s ‘Anyone but You’, which grossed over $210 million worldwide. Pairing her with a rapidly rising co-star from one of the summer’s biggest streaming hits appears to be a strategic move aimed at attracting a young audience.

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