IFC Films and Shudder, AMC Network's premium streaming service for horror, announced today that they have acquired the U.S. and Canadian rights to Meredith Alloway's feature debut FORBIDDEN FRUITS, co-written by Alloway and Lily Houghton. The film is adapted from Houghton's play Of the Women Came the Beginning of Sin, and Through Her We All Die, and is produced by Mason Novick, Diablo Cody (Jennifer's Body), Trent Hubbard, and Mary Anne Waterhouse.
IFC Films has also announced that FORBIDDEN FRUITS will star Lili Reinhart (Hustlers), Lola Tung ("The Summer I Turned Pretty"), Victoria Pedretti ("You"), Alexandra Shipp (Barbie) and Emma Chamberlain in her debut performance. IFC Films plan to release the film theatrically in 2026.
In FORBIDDEN FRUITS, Free Eden employee Apple secretly runs a witchy femme cult in the basement of the mall store after hours - with fellow fruits Cherry and Fig. But when new hire Pumpkin challenges their performative sisterhood, the women are forced to face their own poisons or succumb to a bloody fate.
“I’m so grateful to have found a home for FORBIDDEN FRUITS with IFC Films, a studio who continually encourages filmmakers to experiment, hone their voice, and play within the medium. IFC Films has produced and distributed so many films that have directly inspired me over the years. The team has gifted me creative freedom and support in every step of the process, down to advocating for a theatrical release — a true gift to any filmmaker,” said director Meredith Alloway. “This cast of incredible artists has exceeded my wildest expectations. As a true fan of all of their work, it’s an absolute thrill to see them bring these characters to life. I can't wait for the world to see the way they shine through FORBIDDEN FRUITS.”
“We are thrilled to join forces with the creative minds behind FORBIDDEN FRUITS. Meredith Alloway and Lily Houghton delivered a bewitching script that struck us as a project we felt deeply compelled to onboard early and ensure a theatrical release. With one of the brightest and most hotly anticipated cast line ups, FORBIDDEN FRUITS is lining up to be a must see in 2026,” said Head of AMC Networks’ Films Group Scott Shooman.
FORBIDDEN FRUITS is executive produced by Charlie Traisman and Katherine Romans from Madhouse Films, and Casey Durant and Rachel Douglas from Range. The deal was negotiated by Rachael Labes of IFC Films with Alex Walton at WME on behalf of the filmmakers.
About IFC Films
IFC Films is a leading U.S. distributor of independent cinema that is operated by AMC Networks Inc. The company has been at the forefront of championing boundary-pushing, thought-provoking films for 25 years, with a commitment to delivering high-quality, filmmaker-driven cinema across all genres. IFC Films’ slate reaches a national audience through theatrical releases, cable Video On Demand (VOD), and digital platforms.
Some of the company’s successes over the years include Andrew Haigh's 45 YEARS, Jennifer Kent's THE BABADOOK, Matthew Johnson’s BLACKBERRY, Richard Linklater's BOYHOOD, Armando Iannucci's THE DEATH OF STALIN, Noah Baumbach's FRANCES HA, David France's HOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE, Chris Nash’s IN A VIOLENT NATURE, Colin and Cameron Cairnes’ LATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL, Stephen Frears’ THE LOST KING, Adam Elliot’s MEMOIR OF A SNAIL, Olivier Assayas' PERSONAL SHOPPER, Tran Anh Hung's THE TASTE OF THINGS, Michael Winterbottom’s THE TRIP, and Chloe Okuno’s WATCHER.
About Shudder
AMC Networks’ Shudder stands as the leading curatorial voice and cultural destination for genre entertainment, delivering an unparalleled selection of horror, thrillers, and the supernatural. With an ever-expanding library of films, TV series, and exclusive Originals, Shudder is accessible across most streaming devices in the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.
Shudder releases approximately thirty films per year, and has redefined genre streaming with a slate of groundbreaking and critically acclaimed titles, including Rob Savage’s HOST, Jayro Bustamante’s Golden Globe-nominated LA LLORONA, Phil Tippett’s MAD GOD, Coralie Fargeat’s REVENGE, Kyle Edward Ball’s SKINAMARINK, Christian Tafdrup’s SPEAK NO EVIL, Chloe Okuno’s WATCHER, Demián Rugna’s WHEN EVIL LURKS, and the latest installments in the V/H/S franchise. Shudder also boasts fan-favorite series such as the two-time Emmy Award-nominated THE BOULET BROTHERS’ DRAGULA, Mark Duplass’ THE CREEP TAPES, Greg Nicotero’s CREEPSHOW, and THE LAST DRIVE-IN WITH JOE BOB BRIGGS. Notable recent releases include Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala’s THE DEVIL’S BATH, Chris Nash’s IN A VIOLENT NATURE, Sébastien Vaniček’s INFESTED, Colin and Cameron Cairnes’ LATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL, Damian McCarthy’s ODDITY, and Robert Morgan’s STOPMOTION.