Margaret Qualley Sets Next Film After The Substance's 91% RT Success With Horror Movie From Longlegs Producer

Fresh off the critical acclaim of The Substance, Margaret Qualley finds her next film in a Gothic horror movie called Victorian Psycho, from one of the producers of Longlegs. Qualley began her career in 2013’s Palo Alto before starring in The Nice Guys, which also starred Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe. After her collaboration with Quentin Tarantino in Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood, however, her career began to skyrocket. She has since appeared in movies such as Poor Things and Sanctuary.

Qualley has found her next project in Victorian Psycho, a Gothic horror based on the upcoming novel of the same name by best-selling author Virginia Feito, who also penned the adaptation’s script. The film will be produced by Longlegs producer Dan Kagan and directed by Zachary Wigon. This will be the second collaboration between Qualley and Wigon, as she starred in Sanctuary, which premiered at TIFF in 2022, opening to rave reviews.

An official synopsis for Victorian Psycho, which will be on sale at the American Film Market, reveals that it is set in 1858, where a young, eccentric governess named Winifred Notty (Qualley) assimilates into her new life at the remote manor known as Ensor House. As she does, staff members of the manor begin to disappear, and Winifred’s psychopathic tendencies begin to unravel. Read the full synopsis below:

In 1858, a young, eccentric governess named Winifred Notty (Margaret Qualley) arrives at the remote gothic manor known as Ensor House. Winifred's responsibilities include teaching the children table manners and educating them about their family's history, all whilst hiding her psychopathic tendencies. As Winifred assimilates into life at Ensor House, staff members begin to inexplicably disappear, and the owners of the estate begin to wonder if there is something amiss about their new governess.

Wigon expressed his excitement about bringing Winifred to life on the big screen and praised Feito’s script, which is marketed as a psychodrama riddled with gore and mystery. Qualley and Kagan also released statements sharing their own enthusiasm for the project. They said:

Wigon: As soon as I discovered this thoroughly insane and unforgettable character, I knew I had to introduce moviegoers to Winifred Notty. I am beyond thrilled that the utterly fearless Margaret Qualley will be bringing this complex antihero to vivid life. Virginia Feito's screenplay is an audacious blend of psychodrama, satire, gore and mystery. With horror aficionado producer Dan Kagan and the support of Anton and Anonymous, I cannot wait to make Victorian Psycho.

Kagan: From its first few pages to its terrifying ending, Victorian Psycho entirely delivered on its promise of being a ride like nothing I'd read before. I couldn't be more excited to be bringing this movie to life with our partners at Anton and Anonymous.

Qualley: Working with Zach [Wigon] again feels like a rare gift, and I can’t wait to step into this twisted world he’s created.

What This Means For Victorian Psycho And Margaret Qualley

Victorian Psycho Can Be A Great Opportunity For Qualley

Qualley now has a strong career after popping up on the screen in Shane Black’s The Nice Guys and then Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood. This year alone she starred in multiple films from acclaimed directors, including Ethan Coen’s Drive-Away Dolls and Yorgos Lanthimos’ Kinds of Kindness. She also starred in the body horror flick The Substance, which was released last month and currently has an impressive 91% Rotten Tomatoes score from critics. Screen Rant's Patrice Witherspoon gave The Substance an impressive five stars.

While the movie is still in its early stages, since the book it is based on isn’t out until February 2025, Victorian Psycho sounds like another worthy platform for Qualley to display her talents. She’s already proved her range with her filmography so far, especially with the Netflix limited series Maid. With Victorian Psycho and its seemingly complex antihero, it looks like Qualley will get another opportunity to exhibit her chops in a genre she hasn’t played yet. Having names attached like Wigon and Kagan is also reassuring, as Sanctuary and Longlegs are both acclaimed movies.

Our Take On Victorian Psycho

This Could Be Comparable To Gone Girl

As a fan of Gothic horror, I’m excited for both Feito's book and its adaptation. It’s assuring to see Feito adapt the novel herself, bringing Gone Girl’s author and screenwriter Gillian Flynn to mind. Hopefully, Victorian Psycho will serve as a proper platform as Gone Girl did for Rosamund Pike, who played a complicated yet compelling character. Victorian Psycho’s Winifred Notty sounds like she’s cut from the same cloth and should be a dark yet fun character for Qualley to dive into.

Source: Anton

Margaret Qualley

Birthdate October 23, 1994

Birthplace Kalispell, Montana, USA