Last year, Netflix announced that they’d hired Trevor Macy and Mike Flanagan, the creative team behind Doctor Sleep and Haunting Of Hill House, to helm an adaptation of Boom! Studios’s Something Is Killing The Children. Originally meant to be a limited series, the hit comic from creative team James Tynion IV, Werther Dell’Edera, Miquel Muerto, and Andworld Design has been so successful, the run has shifted to open-ended and a spin-off series title House of Slaughter has been released.
One reason the book has been so successful is Erica Slaughter, the monster-hunter who has come to take out whatever is killing the children. Part perfectly gruff, goth, and mysterious, with the the right compassion and maternal instinct, casting Erica Slaughter could be the make or break for the streaming service’s adaptation. But with the talent out there, here’s my shortlist of ladies I’d like to see behind the skull scarf.
Annika Foster
Erica Slaughter is arguably becoming one of horror comics’ most iconic badasses, and her live-action adaptation has the ability to bring lesser-known performers to the fan’s attention. For me, I’d kill to see Annika Foster finally getting her due. She’s got the range and the experience for a rising scream queen with several spooky flicks under her belt. Plus, she looks like the comic version of Erica, and I think she’d be a great fit for the monster hunter.
Victoria Pedretti
With any project from Macy and Flanagan, there’s hope that Victoria Pedretti will be joining the cast. She’s already proved time and time again why she’s a modern-day Queen of Scream in The Haunting of Hill House, The Haunting of Bly Manor, and You. Rumors have been swirling that she’s on DC’s shortlist for their Dark Universe Zatanna, but with all the uncertainty of the DC brand’s live-action future, DC’s loss might be BOOM!’s gain.
Jessica Rothe
One of my personal favorite horror films over the past few years has been Blumhouse’s underappreciated Happy Death Day and Happy Death Day 2 U. The perfectly campy groundhog-day-esque horror film was grounded by Jessica Rothe‘s impeccable comedic timing. She managed to be likable and unlikable, and really balance the camp with genuine emotion in both directions- fear and love. While Something’s Killing The Children doesn’t have that campy vibe, I feel like she’d be able to bring the emotion to Erica, and I’d love to see her take on a darker role without the comedy aspect.
Tati Gabrielle
Netflix’s previous dark comic adaption of The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina brought Tati Gabrielle‘s talent to the forefront. I think she’d make a fabulous bridge for the audience who are still missing the Archie Comics series. Fans have already seen her handling that dark side of a character and it’d be great to have her grace our screens with that energy again.
Sadie Sink
If Victoria Pedretti is Netflix’s Queen of Scream, Sadie Sink has established herself as the princess with roles in Stranger Things and Fear Street 1978. After her emotional arc in the past season of Stranger Things, it’d be wild to see her bring that emotion to an older role. Plus, it would be wildly fun to get to see Sink in a mentorship position alongside younger actors. Full circle moment!
Nathalie Emmanuel
Former Game of Thrones actor and star of the upcoming gothic vampire thriller The Invitation, Nathalie Emmanuel would be a great choice for Erica Slaughter. Very emotion-driven, Emmanuel has killer expressive eye acting- a must when tasked with Erica’s iconic scarf. Plus, she’s got the experience with acting against CGI.
Alana Boden
Appearing alongside Nathalie Emmanuel in The Invitation is actress Alana Boden. Boden’s previous credits include Flowers in the Attic: The Origin, so she’s got the unsettling horror vibes down.
Amber Midthunder
It’s no secret Prey is one of the biggest films in the US this weekend, and star Amber Midthunder is a huge reason why. Just looking at the Prey posters and her piercing no-nonsense stare screams “Erica Slaughter” to me.
Angourie Rice
I’m a huge Black Mirror fan, and I think that casting Spider-Man and Black Mirror actress Angourie Rice would be a really interesting choice. She’s been traditionally playing very clean cut preppy roles, but her turn in Mare of Easttown showed a darker side that could work well for the monster hunter.
Maya Hawke
Look, while Erica Slaughter may be terrifying and intimidating, she’s also more than a little strange and quirky- just not in that manic-pixie-dream-girl way. And Maya Hawke has proven that she’s got that slightly sour comedic edge that would make Erica’s habit of talking to her stuffed octopus both humorous and tragic once the story unfolds. And we already know she can handle spooky stuff from her breakout role in Stranger Things.
Something is Killing the Children continues with issue #25, releasing soon. Catch up with the first arc and get to know Erica here and find out the mysteries of The House of Slaughter here.
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