Katie Aselton to star in horror-comedy that’s “a softcore version of Pleasantville”

The League and Legion’s Katie Aselton is among those set to star in a movie described as a “basically like a softcore version of Pleasantville,” according to Variety. To clarify: This is a wacky-sounding, high concept project called Deep Murder, about denizens of the porn world who start to develop beyond their stereotypes once a serial killer is in their midst. So essentially, the murderer takes on Reese Witherspoon and Tobey Maguire’s job in the aforementioned Gary Ross picture. In addition to Aselton, the film is also set to feature reliable character actor Christopher McDonald; Johnny Simmons of Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World; Stephanie Drake, otherwise known as Mad Men secretary Meredith; and two of its own writers, Josh Margolin and Quinn Beswick.

Margolin and Beswick are responsible for the screenplay, along with Nikolai Von Keller and Benjamin Smolen, while Nick Corirossi, who has worked for Funny Or Die, will direct. Producer Eric B. Fleischman was the one to make that Pleasantville comparison, explaining, “When your pitch to talent was, ‘This script is basically like a softcore version of Pleasantville,’ people surprisingly perk up and get interested. That it will appeal to both the comedy and genre fans is just icing on the cake.”