Shetland star Gemma Laurie has landed a role in an upcoming British horror movie, inspired by real-life witch trails. Laurie joins House of the Dragon’s Maddie Evans in Pendle 1612, alongside newcomer Ella Moss.
The film was written and directed by twins Liam and Kyle Bashford and is set in their home of Lancashire. It in described as a “docu-horror” and is inspired by the Pendle Witch Trials.
BBC
Related: Best streaming services UK 2026 – including Disney Plus, Netflix, iPlayer and Apple TV
The Pendle Witch Trials took place in 1612 and saw 12 men and women accused of killing 10 people using witchcraft. 11 of the accused went on trail with all but one being found guilty and 10 of the group being executed by hanging.
According to Deadline, Evans will play Amy, with Moss as Hannah and Laurie as Meg. The trio are described as “three young women whose documentary into the disappearance of Amy’s older sister leads them into the landscape surrounding Pendle Hill, synonymous with Britain’s 1612 witch trials.”
It will film on location in Pendle in Lancashire, with principal photography beginning at the end of September.
Speaking about the project Liam Bashford said: “Growing up in Lancashire, the story of the Pendle Witches has always been around us. There’s something about Pendle itself, the landscape, the isolation and the history beneath it.
BBC
Related: UK film release dates
“That has stayed with us since we were kids. We didn’t want to recreate 1612. We wanted to ask what might still be there today.”
His twin brother Kyle added: “It was also incredibly important to us to bring a feature film home. There is so much filmmaking talent in the North West, and we want to show that ambitious independent films can be made here in Lancashire.”
A release date is yet to be announced for Pendle 1612.
Visit our Streaming Guide now to see at a glance where you can view ALL your favourite shows and movies.
The new edition of Legends, a 100-page all-colour celebration of Ariana Grande, is here! Buy Ariana Grande in newsagents or online.
Reporter, Digital Spy
Stephanie is a freelance news writer, who previously covered WWE and AEW for Digital Spy.
After graduating with a degree in history from Queen Mary University, London, she studied journalism at Birkbeck University.
Outside of her work at Digital Spy, she writes about pop culture, with a special focus towards Irish media and how it intersects with politics.
You can read more of her work on her Substack page.