Dead by Daylight film appoints Icelandic director Palsson

The long-awaited live-action film adaptation of the horror video game "Dead by Daylight" has officially named its director, Icelandic filmmaker Thordur Palsson. The announcement was made on Sunday, June 14, 2026, during a sold-out 10th-anniversary celebration for the game in Montreal. Palsson, known for the Netflix series "The Valhalla Murders" and the 2025 horror film "The Damned," will helm the project produced by Blumhouse, Atomic Monster, and the game's developer, Behaviour Interactive.

During the anniversary broadcast, Behaviour Interactive's Chief Product Officer Stephen Mulrooney said the goal was to find a director who could master the game's signature atmosphere of dread and tension. Palsson stated his primary aim is to capture the feeling of playing the game, including the constant fear of danger. The film's script is being written by horror veterans Alexandre Aja and David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick. While plot details remain undisclosed, producers confirmed iconic game locations like the MacMillan Estate and Greenville will appear, along with both recent fan-favorite characters and the original roster. Production is scheduled to begin filming in 2027.