First Look: Eli Roth’s ‘Ice Cream Man’ Introduces Lead Star and Reveals Full Cast
It seems Roth is aiming to do the same for your favorite frozen confections. Fresh off the bloody success of Thanksgiving, the modern master of horror is serving up a new, terrifying treat with Ice Cream Man. Just when you thought it was safe to answer the siren song of the neighborhood ice cream truck, Eli Roth is here to ruin another one of those cherished childhood memories.
What is Ice Cream Man About?
The premise is deceptively simple and dripping with classic horror charm. An idyllic summer town, the kind you see in feel-good 80s movies, is about to have its tranquility shattered. A mysterious ice cream man rolls into town, his truck’s cheerful jingle acting as the harbinger of doom.
He serves up sweet, colorful delights to the local kids, but there’s a horrifying secret ingredient that sends the town spiraling into a nightmare of madness and terror. The Ice Cream Man’s story taps into that primal fear of a trusted figure turning into a monster, a theme Roth has gleefully exploited throughout his career.
Who’s in the Cast?
Leading this descent into this dairy-ing role movie is Ari Millen, the wick Ice Cream Man himself. Just off his past performances, Millen is more than capable of delivering the perfect blend of charm and malice required for the part. Having a friendly face you want to trust, only to be served up a scoop of pure evil.
Joining him is a cast that includes Benjamin Byron Davis, Karen Cliche, Dylan Hawco, and a group of young actors—Sarah Abbott, Shiloh O’Reilly, Kiori Mirza Waldman, Charlie Zeltzer, and Charlie Storey—who are going to be the unlucky kids on the receiving end of these horrifying treats. And, in a casting move that’s both baffling and brilliant, Snoop Dogg is providing some of the music for the film.
When Can We See This Terrifying Treat?
Patience, horror fans. While principal photography wrapped in September 2024, Ice Cream Man isn’t scheduled to hit theaters until sometime in 2026. Yes, that feels like an eternity away, but good things (and truly horrifying nightmares) come to those who wait. While you wait, you can always prepare by watching Thanksgiving 2, which is also in the pipeline. Eli Roth is clearly a busy man, and we’re all the luckier (and more terrified) for it.
The film is already making waves, with WME Independent handling international rights and StudioCanal snagging distribution across the U.K., Germany, France, and Australia, among others. With a strong distribution plan in place, it’s clear the industry has high hopes for Roth’s latest gore-fest.
Final Thoughts: I Only Run For Ice Cream Trucks!
Eli Roth has a mastery in producing horror movies that thrive (and kill) on the idea of destroying precious memories and the sense of security. Ice Cream Man is a promising film with a great list of actors and a talented musical legend, adding to the hype. Roth’s track record is marvelous in giving us genuine terror of the unexpected, so it’s a must that we need to jump in line to get a taste of that fear. And this film is gonna be a dish best served cold and sweet.
