‘Hungry’ Bites Back With a Rampaging Hippo

The first images from Hungry, a survival thriller built around one of nature’s most unpredictable threats, have surfaced today, offering an early glimpse at a project that is already drawing attention on the international sales circuit. Revealed via Deadline, the images introduce James Nunn’s latest genre outing, a film that swaps the familiar territory of sharks and snakes for a far less expected menace lurking in the Louisiana swamplands.

Written and directed by Nunn, whose recent work has leaned into tightly wound action and survival scenarios, Hungry centres on a group of holidaymakers who find themselves disoriented in the marshes after straying off course. What begins as a misjudged adventure rapidly escalates when a rampaging hippopotamus enters the frame, turning the humid, maze-like landscape into a deadly trap. The premise taps into a growing appetite for stripped-back survival stories that place humans at the mercy of raw, indifferent nature rather than supernatural forces.

Leading the cast is Madison Davenport, whose recent genre credentials continue to expand, joined by a line-up that blends established international talent with emerging names. Joaquim de Almeida, Tracey Bonner and Jim Meskimen bring weight and experience to the ensemble of characters fighting to stay alive, while Samantha Coughlan, Olivia Bernstone, Michel Curiel and River Codack round out the group caught in the escalating chaos. Early materials suggest a focus on mounting tension and physical vulnerability rather than spectacle alone, with the swampland setting doing much of the atmospheric heavy lifting.

Behind the camera, Hungry marks another collaboration between Nunn and producer Ben Jacques, following their work on the One Shot films. The project is produced by Signature Films, with the company’s chief executive Marc Goldberg and head of production and development Sarah Gabriel serving as executive producers. International sales are being handled by Capture, which is continuing to present the film to buyers at the European Film Market this week, positioning it as a high-concept thriller with strong global appeal.

With post-production underway and a release planned for later this year, Hungry is shaping up as a notable addition to the recent wave of animal-driven thrillers, distinguished by its unusual choice of antagonist and its swamp-bound sense of isolation. As sales momentum builds, the film is already carving out a distinct identity before audiences have even set foot in the marsh.