Universal Pictures Entertainment has taken UK, Germany, Benelux and Brazil rights from Synchronicity Entertainment to horror comedy Cooties.

Elijah Wood, Alison Pill and Rainn Wilson star in the tale of a replacement teacher who battles child cannibals at a remote elementary school.

Cary Munion and Jonathan Milott directed Cooties and SpectreVision partners Wood, Daniel Noah and Josh C Waller produce with Steven Schneider and Glacier Films’ Tove Christensen and Georgy Malkov.

Saw co-creator Leigh Whannell and Glee co-creator Ian Brennan wrote the screenplay and serve as executive producers. 

Synchronicity Entertainment president Ruzanna Kegeyan negotiated the deal with Matthew Dysart from Sheppard Mullin for the producers and Jasper van Hecke and Felicity Harrison for UPIE.

“Not since Gremlins struck a nerve have little monsters terrorised a town in a wildly entertaining take on the horror genre,” said Kegeyan.

“UPIE’s enthusiasm for the release in such key international territories as the UK and Germany promises that Cooties has found the perfect home where it can grow globally.”