Emile Hirsch, Justin Long Movie ‘Lice’ Acquired by Magenta Light Studios

EXCLUSIVE: Bob Yari’s Magenta Light Studios has taken North American theatrical rights to the horror-thriller, Lice, for a Q1 2027 release.

The feature directorial debut of filmmaker Jonathan Bensimon stars Emile Hirsch, Justin Long, and Kevin Connolly during a deadly outbreak of a parasite at a Long Island high school in the 1980s. When the school goes under military lockdown, the itch-crazed students turn on each other in a desperate struggle to survive. Hirsch plays burned-out science teacher Mr. Shanker, who finds new purpose as he investigates the bloodthirsty mites, Long as Principal Van, a man who is out of his depth and soon out of his mind, and Connolly as the tenacious Detective Sikorski, the desperate cop on the outside racing against time to contain the outbreak before it consumes the entire town.

Pic also stars Emilie Bierre, Joelle Farrow, Riley Davis, Tom Keat, Annamarie Kasper, Cooper Levy, Christian Meer, Gage Munroe, Devyn Nekoda, Sabrina Saudin, and Milton Torres Lara.

Connolly also serves as producer under his ActionPark Productions banner, alongside producer Jeremy Alter. Bob Yari and David Spiegelman of Magenta Light Studios are EPs along with Eustace Montgomery Hicks. The screenplay was written by Anthony Musella and Shaun Harris (The Hemingway Thief). Highland Film Group is handling international sales out of Cannes.

“We always wanted Lice to feel like a visceral, throwback thrill ride—something pulpy, unsettling, and darkly funny all at once. Collaborating with this cast and creative team allowed us to push that tone in unexpected ways, balancing chaos with character. We also leaned into bold, tactile techniques to create a visual style that feels both nostalgic and immediate. I’m especially excited to be partnering with Magenta Light Studios to bring the film to theaters—it’s the perfect home for this kind of daring, cinematic experience, and I can’t wait for audiences to see it on the big screen,” said Bensimon.

“From the moment we read the script, Lice stood out as a bold, wildly original ride,” said Bob Yari, CEO of Magenta Light Studios. “Jonathan Bensimon has crafted a film that’s as smart as it is unsettling, blending dark humor, suspense, and real emotional stakes. With this incredible cast, we believe it’s going to be a truly memorable theatrical experience, and we’re excited to bring it to audiences nationwide.”