“Speed Demon” Unleashes Five-Film Franchise Plan and Potential TV Series

Forget a standalone horror flick. Director Jon Keeyes and star Katie Cassidy are unleashing "Speed Demon" with plans for a whopping five-film franchise and a potential TV series. That's right – a full cinematic universe built around a nun performing a demon exorcism on a runaway train. This supernatural survival horror isn't just challenging convention; it's plotting a long game.

Katie Cassidy, a familiar face from Arrow, jumped at the chance to play Sister Lu, calling the nun-led exorcism concept "badass." It's a refreshing flip on tired patriarchal exorcism tropes, offering a truly unique take within the genre. Director Keeyes echoed the excitement, praising writer Domenico Salvaggio's script for its wild genre blend. "How often do you get a nun, a priest, possession, and a runaway train?" he mused. Even veteran actor William H. Macy, who stars as Father Novak, reportedly needed his own kid's encouragement to join the project – a testament to its intriguing premise.

Cassidy delved deep into Sister Lu's character, building an extensive backstory around trauma and faltering faith. Keeyes, known for "Cult Killer," detailed the meticulous process of balancing practical effects for the terrifying demon designs with CGI for the train's perilous journey and "other world" sequences. He even shared a behind-the-scenes anecdote about re-blocking a static six-page bar scene on the fly, transforming it into a dynamic, tension-filled sequence. That's the kind of on-set problem-solving that makes a difference.