EXCLUSIVE: Feature marks debut of award-winning commercials director.

Goldcrest and The Tea Shop & Film Company are joining forces to produce supernatural thriller Slumber.

The film marks the feature debut of commercials director Jonathan Hopkins who has previously directed campaigns for McDonalds, Sony and eBay.

Slumber, written by Hopkins and 2013 Blood List screenwriter Richard Hobley, will be produced by Mark Lane and James Harris for The Tea Shop, the London-based production outfit behind Tower Block and Cockney vs Zombies. 

Executive producers are Goldcrest’s Nick Quested and Pascal Degove. The company will handle sales and tease advance footage shot by the director during the upcoming AFM.

Slumber will tell the story of a sleep doctor who is forced to abandon scientific reason and accept that a family is being terrorised by a parasitic demon, which paralyses victims as they sleep.

Production is scheduled for next spring with casting underway.

Goldcrest Post, under managing director Patrick Malone, will provide picture and sound post-production services.

Pascal Degove, managing director Goldcrest Films said: “From Cockneys vs Zombies and Tower Block onwards, James and Mark have demonstrated an uncanny ability to identify commercial entertainment and Slumber is no different. I know our distributors are already excited about it.”

“We’re convinced that the thrilling combination of Richard’s writing and Johnny’s vision as a director is a winner. We’re excited to be bringing it to the big screen and to be doing that with Goldcrest,” added James Harris.

Hopkins’ Singing Farmers spot for Yeo Valley picked up three arrows at the British Television Advertising Awards.