Bill Hader Completes Directorial Horror Debut They Know
The horror film starring Bill Hader and Linda Cardellini is now in post-production following a May wrap.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Horror
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Bill Hader has finished filming his debut horror project, They Know, which he wrote with collaborator Duffy Boudreau. The film, which also stars Linda Cardellini, is currently in the sound-mixing phase of post-production.
Why it matters
The project originated from personal discussions about the anxieties of divorced parents, evolving from a shelved script into a completed feature. Hader revived the film after finding creative inspiration in the titles Eddington and Cloud.
The production team refined their technical approach by adapting a scene originally planned for four or five shots into a single continuous oner during rehearsal.
The players
Bill Hader
Bill Hader is an actor, writer, and director who previously created and starred in the HBO dark comedy series Barry.
Linda Cardellini
Linda Cardellini is an actress known for her roles in television series such as Freaks and Geeks, Dead to Me, and ER.
Duffy Boudreau
Duffy Boudreau is a writer and collaborator who has previously worked with Bill Hader on the series Barry.
The details
The plot centers on a divorced father who becomes deeply suspicious of his ex-wife's new partner. Hader and Boudreau drew from their own experiences with divorce to shape the concept, exploring worst-case scenarios for parents maintaining amicable relationships.
Timeline
Production on the film wrapped in May 2026.
The production status is current as of October 20, 2026.
Industry Dynamics
The film follows a pattern set by the development of the series Barry, highlighting the ongoing trend of television creators transitioning into distinct auteur-driven horror cinema. This project illustrates how seasoned showrunners are leveraging their industry standing to greenlight personal, high-concept genre stories.
Potential viewers can expect to see the film in theaters or on streaming platforms following upcoming distributor screenings. The shift toward a single-shot technical style suggests a specific visual experience that may influence how the film is marketed to horror fans.
The takeaway
Hader's return to this previously shelved script highlights how revisiting past creative concepts with a new perspective can overcome initial narrative hurdles. Aspiring creators can look to this process as a reminder that content once considered too mean-spirited may find its footing through tonal adjustments.
Further reading
For more on the latest developments in the genre, see the Horror section.
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Do you enjoy watching comedians transition into directing serious horror films?
