Gabrielle Union to Lead Paranormal Thriller Perdita in Megan Raney Aarons’ Feature Debut

Gabrielle Union headlines Perdita, a psychological ghost story blending legacy, grief, and the supernatural.

Gabrielle Union to Star in Paranormal Psychological Thriller Perdita, Feature Debut of Megan Raney Aarons

Gabrielle Union has signed on to headline Perdita, a paranormal psychological thriller that marks the narrative feature debut of filmmaker Megan Raney Aarons. Production is set to begin in Ontario, Canada, in March.

Inspired by Henry James’ 1868 short story The Romance of Certain Old Clothes, Perdita centers on Pearl (Union), a rootless loner working as a remote island park ranger. After a disturbing encounter with an apparition destabilizes her sense of reality, Pearl abruptly abandons both her job and a romantic relationship. Her unraveling accelerates when she learns she has inherited a long-abandoned house in Detroit, drawing her into a mystery that threatens both her life and her sanity. As Pearl digs deeper, she comes face to face with unseen forces determined to convince her that she is not alone.

The screenplay was written by award-winning playwright and screenwriter Matthew Hurt (Hello Muscles, Last Rights), based on a story he developed with Aarons.

Producers on Perdita include Colin K. Gray, Jake Horowitz, and Larissa Primeau of GRAiNEY PICTURES Ltd., alongside Daniel Sheldon and Chad Oliver of Inner Media Capital (Fck Valentine’s Day*, Jacob Beats Up Nate). Executive producers include Ramfis Myrthil (Terrestrial, Ricky), Amber Templemore (Silo, Hawkeye), and Byron Beane (Cheap AF, Illuminator), who also serves as the film’s casting director alongside Kevin Scott (Outlaw Johnny Black, The United States vs. Billie Holiday) and Hannah Antaki (Violence, Peak Everything) for Canada. GRAiNEY PICTURES’ Canadian executive producers are Joel Cohen (The Simpsons), Robert Cohen (Somebody Somewhere, Being Canadian), and Erik T. Wilson (Kaz: Pushing the Virtual Divide).

“Blending a story set in 2009 against a Civil Rights-era ’60s backdrop, Perdita is deeply personal as an homage to the activism of my parents and my godmother—the first African American woman ordained in her denomination,” Aarons said in a statement. “As a thrilling piece of entertainment, it’s also a quiet commentary on today’s political landscape. I’m honored that such a dedicated, talented, and accomplished team of creatives share my passion for this picture, and I’m beyond excited that Gabrielle is breathing life into Pearl. I can’t wait for audiences to cross this haunting Rust Belt threshold with us.”

Union, whose recent work includes The Inspection, continues to expand her presence in psychologically driven genre projects, with Perdita positioning itself as a character-forward descent into grief, legacy, and supernatural reckoning set against the decaying echoes of American history.