David Birke has brought an old obsession back to life, and this time he has Pascal Laugier and Saïd Ben Saïd with him.

Reports indicate the writer behind Elle, Benedetta and Slender Man has teamed with producer Saïd Ben Saïd and director Pascal Laugier on Nocturnal, a vampire horror project now circulating at the Cannes Market. The pairing immediately gives the film a distinct profile: Birke returns to collaborators linked to some of his most provocative work, while Laugier adds another dark genre title to a résumé that includes Incident in a Ghostland.

"Nocturnal" brings together a writer, producer and director with deep experience in psychologically charged, confrontational genre storytelling.

The project appears to carry personal weight for Birke. Sources suggest he has treated the script as a passion project since his student years, a detail that frames Nocturnal as more than a routine market package. That history matters. In an industry crowded with familiar horror setups, a script that a writer has carried for years often arrives with a sharper point of view and a clearer sense of tone.

Key Facts

  • David Birke is attached to write vampire horror film Nocturnal.
  • Producer Saïd Ben Saïd and director Pascal Laugier are also involved.
  • The project is being presented in the Cannes Market.
  • Reports indicate Birke has developed the script since his student days.

The announcement also underlines how the Cannes Market continues to function as a launchpad for prestige-leaning genre films. Birke, Ben Saïd and Laugier each bring credibility from work that sits between art-house provocation and commercial horror. That mix could help Nocturnal stand out with buyers looking for horror that offers both a recognizable hook and a stronger creative signature.

What comes next will likely hinge on how the package lands with partners and distributors in Cannes. Much remains unconfirmed, including casting and production timing, but the combination of a vampire premise, a longtime passion script and seasoned collaborators gives Nocturnal real momentum. For horror fans and industry watchers, the project matters because it signals that the market for director-driven genre storytelling remains very much alive.