Numfar! Do the dance of joy ...

The Cabin in the Woods, a horror film directed by Drew Goddard, and co-written by Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon, is finally nearing completion of a distribution deal. This has been a long road, for a film announced at the 2007 San Diego Comic-Con! Originally a property of MGM with an October 2009 release date, The Cabin in the Woods was first pulled from release because they wanted to add some 3D effects. With the financial collapse of MGM, The Cabin in the Woods became one of the properties lost in the financial shuffle. But according to Deadline, Lionsgate is closing a deal with MGM to distribute the film. Fans rejoice!

One of the reasons this film is so highly anticipated is the writing/directing dream team of Goddard and Whedon. Goddard worked with Whedon on the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel as a writer, as well as writing on JJ Abrams' Alias and Lost. He also wrote the script for Abrams' sci-fi horror film Cloverfield. In fact, Drew and Joss have yet to be involved with an unsuccessful project, which makes the reason that this film has languished on the shelf a mystery.

Mystery solved! The film stars Richard Jenkins (the dad from Six Feet Under, and Step Brothers), Bradley Whitford (The West Wing, or Billy Madison's nemesis) and Chris Hemsworth. Yup, the guy who is all set to star in Thor this year, and The Avengers next year, is one of the leads in The Cabin in the Woods. Jenkins and Whitford are both amazing actors, but it's just possible that Hemsworth's newly-found name recognition has something to do with Lionsgate's interest in distributing the film now. For fans of Joss and the Whedonverse, The Cabin in the Woods features actors from several of Joss' other projects: a favorite of Joss' and something that fans love to see. The Cabin in the Woods cast includes Amy Acker (Angel, Dollhouse), Tom Lenk (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and Fran Kranz (Dollhouse). A release date hasn't been set, but October 2011 sounds likely.

See also:

Joss Whedon's The Cabin in the Woods review (spoiler-free)

Schrodinger's Spoilers: How the Cabin in the Woods trailer redefines spoilers, but spoils nothing

Cabin in the Woods poster taunts us with meta-textuality

Joss Whedon will follow The Avengers with Wastelanders, "a dark piece" with no singing

Tucker & Dale, The Tunnel lead Telluride Horror Show selections

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