After 7 Years Karyn Kusama Makes Her Comeback with 'Stan' — From Canceled 'Dracula' to a New Beginning
The director of Jennifer’s Body is finally back in cinema.
News of Karyn Kusama’s return to film with Stan caught my eye immediately. The new thriller, set to shoot in early 2026, will star Daisy Edgar-Jones. Kusama hasn’t made a feature since Destroyer in 2018, so this comeback already feels like an event.
From Dracula’s Demise to Stan’s Rise
Back in 2020, Kusama was only weeks away from filming her modern-day Dracula for Blumhouse. Her version, she explained, wasn’t just about a monster but about a man — a vision that spooked the financiers. "People lost their nerve," she said.
Frustrating, yes, but doesn’t that refusal to soften her ideas show exactly why her voice matters?
A Return Worth Waiting For
In the meantime she worked in TV, directing The Terror and producing Yellowjackets. Still, cinema always seemed her natural home. From Girlfight to Jennifer’s Body and The Invitation, Kusama has consistently placed complex women at the centre of her stories.
With Stan, that tradition looks ready to continue — even if the plot remains a mystery. And maybe that’s part of the appeal, not knowing what’s coming next.
