Thai filmmaker Nattawut ‘Baz’ Poonpiriya, who is known for his box office hit Bad Genius and Sundance 2021 winner One For The Road, is set to direct the upcoming English-language horror-thriller The Innkeeper for Crazy Rich Asians backer Starlight. The script is written by Eakasit Thairath (Warrior King 2) and Poonpiriya, and is edited by Logan Martin (Meat).

The film takes place during the backdrop of the Southeast Asian financial crisis in 1997. The Inkeeper will follow the story of a man who must confront his fears after his twin brother, who disappeared years ago is found in a bleak Thai hotel.

The movie will be the first project under Poonpiriya’s development deal with Starlight, whose Peter Luo will produce.

Poonpiriya has been extremely in demand since his thriller Bad Genius became the highest-grossing Thai film of 2017, as well as being the most successful Thai film ever overseas, grossing over $30M in China. His latest film, Sundance winner One For The Road, was produced by Wong Kar Wai, and is set to work with Crazy Rich Asians filmmaker Jon M. Chu to direct Netflix’s Thai Cave Rescue movie.

According to Deadline, Starlight principal Luo said: “Baz’s work is boundary-breaking in many ways and The Innkeeper is a film that will further demonstrate his unique visual storytelling gifts and wow audiences globally. We’re thrilled to have our longstanding collaboration deal and excited to make this our debut project together.”

The Innkeeper is set to begin shooting in the US and Thailand in 2022.