A24 Releases First Slayground Trailer Ahead of 2027 Debut

A24 has released the first trailer for Slayground, an upcoming thriller written and directed by Jeremy Saulnier, ahead of its theatrical debut on January 29, 2027. The film follows a haunted attraction employee who becomes the central suspect in a mass killing after waking up surrounded by his dead coworkers without remembering what happened. The trailer introduces Michael Graves, known as Metal Mike, played by Cory Michael Smith.

According to the official synopsis reported by Polygon and Nerdist, Graves must uncover the truth behind the deaths while a statewide manhunt closes in on him. The story centers on the events of Halloween 2024 at the fictional haunted attraction where Graves works. As the investigation develops, the character faces the possibility that he may be responsible for the killings or that someone else has framed him.

Slayground was previously titled October, according to Polygon and Yahoo. A24 initially planned to release the film in fall 2026 but subsequently moved its theatrical debut to January 29, 2027, according to Gizmodo.

Saulnier returns to the thriller genre after directing Green Room, Blue Ruin, Hold the Dark, and Rebel Ridge. His previous work has featured tightly controlled suspense and graphic violence, elements that also feature in the new film's premise. The ensemble cast includes Cory Michael Smith, Chase Sui Wonders, Sophie Wilde, James Badge Dale, Stanley Simons, Stephen Root, Chris Sullivan, Imogen Poots, Young Mazino, and Matty Matheson. The cast combines performers known for film and television projects across several genres.

A24 is producing the film alongside Rich Peete, Eli Bush, Saulnier, and Skei Saulnier of Niteowl Films. Executive producers include Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie, Traci Carlson, Elliott Coley, and Macon Blair, according to Yahoo. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, members of Nine Inch Nails, are providing the film's score. Their involvement adds an original musical component to the production, which builds its central mystery around a deadly incident at a Halloween attraction.

The trailer leaves the circumstances of the massacre unresolved while establishing Graves as both the suspected perpetrator and the person searching for answers. Slayground is scheduled to open in theaters on January 29, 2027.