We’ve got some juicy casting news for a film that already sounds like it will be a wild ride: Forbidden Fruits! You might remember us mentioning last month that the super-talented Victoria Pedrettiof “The Haunting of Hill House” and the “Riverdale” fave Lili Reinhart were on board. Well, the cast just got even more exciting. Deadline is reporting that Gabrielle Union (The Inspection) has officially joined the party!
The details about Union’s character are being kept under wraps for now. However, she’s joining an ensemble that includes Lola Tung, Alexandra Shipp, and even the social media sensation Emma Chamberlain. This is shaping up to be quite the eclectic and talented mix!
The cameras are already rolling on Forbidden Fruits, which marks the feature directorial debut of Meredith Alloway. And get this – we were the first to tell you last month that IFC Films and Shudder have already snapped up the distribution rights for a 2026 release. So, we know where we’ll be getting our dose of this genre-bending goodness!
A Magic-Filled Story
Now, let’s dive into the deliciously dark premise. Forbidden Fruits is based on a play with a seriously intriguing title: “Of the Women Came the Beginning of Sin, and Through Her We All Die” by Lily Houghton, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Alloway. The story centers around Apple, an employee at a seemingly innocent mall store called Free Eden. But after hours, Apple has a little secret going on in the basement: She secretly runs a cover of witch with her fellow “fruits,” Cherry and Fig.
Things get shaken up when a new hire named Pumpkin arrives and starts challenging their whole sisterhood. This forces the women to confront their own inner “poisons” or risk succumbing to a fate that sounds decidedly bloody.
Mason Novick, Diablo Cody (writer of Jennifer’s Body), Trent Hubbard, and Mary Anne Waterhouse are producing. Charlie Traisman and Katherine Romans for Madhouse Films, alongside Casey Durant and Rachel Douglas from Range Media Partners, are executive producing.
Union
Gabrielle Union has been on a roll lately. She recently snagged Gotham and Spirit Award nominations for her powerful performance opposite Jeremy Pope in A24’s drama The Inspection. And Union isn’t slowing down anytime soon. Next up, she’s set to lead The Casket Girls, a new horror film from the Get Out producer QC Entertainment. Union is embracing the genre world, and we’re here for it.
With this fantastic cast, a wickedly intriguing premise, and a solid team behind it, Forbidden Fruits is one to keep on your radar. It sounds like it will be a dark, funny, and potentially bloody exploration of sisterhood, secrets, and maybe a little bit of witchcraft. We’ll be waiting impatiently for that 2026 release!
