Universal Pictures released the debut trailer for the supernatural horror feature Other Mommy in movie theaters this weekend during screenings of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. Studio executives scheduled the Jessica Chastain psychological thriller to premiere on October 9, 2026, securing an autumn theatrical launch during the Halloween cinema season. The promotional footage remains restricted to cinema screens across the country before its planned digital release for broader audiences.
Rescheduled premiere date for Halloween
Universal Pictures previously slated the release for May 8, 2026, before shifting the calendar to focus on the lucrative October holiday corridor. That strategic calendar update gives the supernatural picture a prime showcase among major genre releases targeting autumn box office crowds.
Director Rob Savage helms the feature, extending his work in the genre following his earlier directing efforts on The Boogeyman and Host. Adapted from the acclaimed supernatural horror novel Incidents Around the House by author Josh Malerman, the story tracks an eight-year-old girl named Bela whose parents endure an unstable marriage while an aggressive presence demands entry into her fragile heart. The premise draws immediate parallels to the 2013 movie Mama, which also starred Chastain as a woman protecting children against a terrifying maternal ghost. Malerman originally gained global literary fame as the author of Bird Box, making this new adaptation one of his most recognized book projects.
Supernatural nightmare inside the home
Terror strikes Bela every night.
The eight-year-old protagonist endures the slow collapse of her parents’ marriage while watching an evil presence emerge directly from her closet. This mysterious entity repeatedly confronts the girl with the chilling question: “Can I enter your heart?” Bela continues to refuse the supernatural intruder, prompting the visitor to unleash escalating violence that threatens to tear the entire household apart.
Assembled cast for the adaptation
Newcomer Arabella Olivia Clark stars as eight-year-old Bela alongside Chastain in the central narrative. The studio assembled a supporting ensemble that features recognizable talent from both independent drama and genre productions:
- Jay Duplass and Dichen Lachman
- Karen Allen and Sean Kaufman
- Adam Silver and Carrie Dimaculangan
Atomic Monster and Blumhouse produced the motion picture in association with Spin a Black Yarn for distributor Universal Pictures. Genre filmmaker James Wan serves as producer on the title, while Alayna Glasthal handled production oversight on behalf of Atomic Monster. Screenwriter Nathan Elston, known for writing on the television drama Succession, adapted Malerman’s book for the screen.
Creative team behind the project
Savage and Malerman also take executive producer credits on the film alongside industry partners Michael Clear, Judson Scott, Macdara Kelleher, and Ryan Lewis. Universal Pictures prepares to distribute the chilling ghost story to international audiences as the Halloween season begins in October.