‘Legacies’ Star Kaylee Kaneshiro Boards Cult Survivor Horror ‘The Rift’ From Helmer Colin Levy (EXCLUSIVE)

“The Rift,” a sci-fi horror feature from producer Frank Ponce (“The Line”) and director Colin Levy (“Skywatch”), has locked its principal cast with filming set to commence this July in New Mexico, it was unveiled at the Cannes Film Market.

The project will star Kaylee Kaneshiro, known for her work in “Legacies,” alongside Anna Akana (“Jupiter’s Legacy”) and Braxton Fannin (“If That Mockingbird Don’t Sing”).

Penned by Casey and Brandon Botta, the narrative follows estranged cult survivors who reunite in the remote desert hoping for closure only to discover the prophecy they once fled may be coming true. The screenplay was discovered through Roadmap Writers, a platform connecting emerging writers with industry professionals.

Ponce, who produces through his Rabbit Hole Films banner, described the script as “the most chilling and emotionally resonant genre script I’ve read in years,” adding: “We’re assembling a dream cast and crew to bring this vision to life with the grounded intensity it deserves.”

For Levy, the material connects on a personal level. “‘The Rift’ ignites the curious, inner-child part of me that’s still searching for answers,” the director stated. “I hope to honor what the Bottas have crafted — a sharp, reality-bending pressure cooker that explores the destructive consequences of our primal need to belong.”

The filmmakers previously collaborated on “The Secret Number,” a YouTube short that gained recognition for its cerebral approach to science fiction. “The Rift” represents Ponce’s effort to position Rabbit Hole Films as a home for emotionally charged genre storytelling that “unsettles, provokes, and elevates” the horror and sci-fi categories.

Technical contributors include cinematographer Michael Alden Lloyd (“Borderline”) and production designer Sarah Loepkke (“ALT”), with financial backing from Film New Mexico. The executive production team consists of Shane Seo, Jim Rine, with Adarsh Bhatt and Ian Moe serving as co-executive producers, and Joey Tuccio and Brandon Combs as co-producers.