Media Capital Technologies (MCT) and The Horror Section will fully finance and produce “Ice Cream Man,” Eli Roth’s new horror film.
Roth, a master of the genre whose work includes the “Hostel” and “Cabin Fever” franchise, returns with the story of an idyllic summer town descending into madness when an ice cream man serves kids sweet delights with horrifying results. Beyond that sparse teaser, the plot details are being kept under wraps.
Roth wrote the script and will direct from an original idea he has had for over twenty years. He says that the delay is because studios got antsy about financing it. The filmmaker launched The Horror Section earlier this year with the goal of making the kind of independent scary movies that made him famous.
Roth will also produce “Ice Cream Man” alongside MCT’s Christopher Woodrow and Raj Singh and Cream’s Kate Harrison. Executive producers include MCT’s Connor DiGregorio and Eli Massillon and The Horror Section’s Jon Schnaars.
WME Independent will represent the international rights to the film and introduce it to buyers in Cannes. The Horror Section has U.S. rights to the film and plans a wide theatrical release during the second quarter of 2026. Filming is set to begin this summer in Canada.
“I’ve had this idea for a long, long time, and studios were too afraid of my early drafts. Now’s the time to push the envelope farther than I ever have with what I think will be my most terrifying and insane film to date,” says Roth. “Films like ‘Ice Cream Man’ are what we created The Horror Section for, to make unrated, boundary-pushing theatrical events the horror fans can all scream about for years. I’m very lucky to have such fantastic partners like MCT and, of course, all the investors in The Horror Section.”
“Working with Eli is always a privilege, and this film feels fresh and exciting as it’s his first original project in the independent market in nearly a decade,” says MCT Principals Christopher Woodrow and Raj Singh. “We believe ‘Ice Cream Man’ will mark the start of the next great horror franchise with massive commercial potential.”
“Ice Cream Man” will be MCT’s debut as a financier of independent film projects, an expansion from its role as Lionsgate’s primary film slate co-financing partner. Recent films include “Saw X, “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare,” “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” and “Flight Risk.” Upcoming titles include the John Wick spinoff “Ballerina,” “The Long Walk,” “Good Fortune,” and “The Housemaid.”
MCT is a specialty finance company focused on strategic investments in premium content. The company provides capital to media and entertainment businesses, including motion picture studios, independent production entities, and intellectual property rights-holders. A range of institutional investors, including MassMutual, support the company and its investment activities.
In March 2025, Roth, in partnership with MCT, launched The Horror Section with a focus on building a robust library of intellectual property. The company will produce, acquire, and distribute a wide range of content, including independent theatrical films, television series, games, podcasts, and live events. MCT provides strategic support across corporate finance, project finance, and day-to-day operational management.
Roth’s credits include “The House With a Clock in Its Walls,” “Knock Knock,” and “Thanksgiving.”
The Horror Section recently announced its first major film acquisition with the Joe Begos-directed “Jimmy and Stiggs,” set for a wide theatrical release in August 2025.
MCT is represented by CAA. Eli Roth is represented by WME.