Tommy Wirkola’s Shark Thriller Heads to Netflix After Sony Drops Theatrical Release
Phoebe Dynevor, Whitney Peak and Djimon Hounsou Lead High-Concept Survival Film Backed by Adam McKay
Filmmaker Tommy Wirkola is set to make waves on Netflix with his upcoming untitled survival thriller after the project was officially removed from Sony Pictures’ theatrical slate. The film, which was earlier circulated under working titles such as Shiver and Beneath the Storm, will now premiere exclusively on the streaming platform in 2026, marking another major collaboration between Sony and Netflix.
The film stars Phoebe Dynevor, widely recognized for her breakout role in Bridgerton and recent performances in Fair Play and Anniversary. She is joined by rising star Whitney Peak, known for Gossip Girl and Hocus Pocus 2, along with Oscar-nominated actor Djimon Hounsou, whose filmography includes Blood Diamond, Gladiator, and several Marvel projects. While the makers have kept plot details under wraps, industry reports confirm the story revolves around a deadly shark-driven survival scenario, blending intense action with disaster-thriller elements.
Behind the scenes, the film is produced by Adam McKay and Kevin Messick under their Hyperobject Industries banner, adding strong creative weight to the project. Production reportedly took place in Australia in 2024, with large-scale water and survival sequences forming the backbone of the film’s visual spectacle.
Originally, Sony had planned the movie for a theatrical release in August 2025, later shifting the date to July 2026 before ultimately pulling it from cinemas altogether. The move aligns with Sony’s evolving distribution strategy, increasingly leveraging its streaming partnership with Netflix for select projects rather than committing to traditional theatrical runs.
The project joins Netflix as part of Sony’s first-look deal for direct-to-streaming films, alongside a broader global Pay-1 licensing agreement that sends Sony titles to Netflix after their theatrical and home entertainment windows. Previous collaborations between the two studios have delivered major streaming successes, including animated hits and big-budget adaptations currently in development.
For Wirkola, this release adds momentum to an already busy slate. The director is also preparing “Violent Night 2,” the sequel to his 2022 action-comedy that reimagined Santa Claus as a fierce vigilante, with David Harbour returning in the lead role for a December theatrical release. Wirkola remains known for blending dark humor, stylized violence, and genre spectacle in films such as Dead Snow, Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, and What Happened to Monday.
With a popular cast, proven producers, and Netflix’s global reach, the untitled shark thriller is shaping up to be a high-impact streaming release that could attract both thriller fans and mainstream audiences when it launches next year.
