Prepare to have your childhood memories turned to pulp. Roadside Attractions and Saban Films have officially snagged the North American rights to Buddy, the Sundance standout that left audiences questioning their sanity.
If the name Casper Kelly sounds familiar, it’s because he’s the deranged genius behind the viral fever dream Too Many Cooks and the “Cheddar Goblin” from Mandy. Now, he’s making his theatrical feature debut, and he’s brought along an A-list cast of future trauma victims.
Sesame Street, But Make It Scary
The film is set inside a children’s television show that doesn’t just go off the rails—it drives the train directly into a canyon of madness. Imagine the bright colors, catchy songs, and wholesome puppets, then add a relentless descent into psychological and physical horror.
According to Roadside Attractions Co-Presidents Howard Cohen and Eric d’Arbeloff, the film succeeds by turning “comfort food into poison.” It’s a genre-bending ride that reportedly earned “must-see” status at both Sundance and SXSW.
An Ensemble Worth Screaming For
You know a script is special (or specifically unhinged) when it attracts a cast this stacked. It includes Cristin Milioti (The Penguin, Palm Springs), Michael Shannon (The Shape of Water), Keegan-Michael Key (Key & Peele), and Topher Grace (BlacKkKlansman). Patton Oswalt (Ratatouille) and Delaney Quinn (If I Had Legs I’d Kick You) round out the cast.
From the Mind of Casper Kelly
Kelly has built a career on taking “wholesome nostalgia” and flipping it into a “laugh-out-loud nightmare.” After years of boundary-pushing work on Adult Swim (including Your Pretty Face Is Going to Hell), Buddy represents his most ambitious—and likely most disturbing—vision yet.
“The theatrical experience means so much to me personally,” Kelly remarked. “I’m thrilled that audiences will get the chance to see the movie in theaters everywhere.”
Mark your calendars! Buddy is set to possess theaters nationwide on September 4, 2026 (Labor Day Weekend).
