Tiffany Haddish & Rosario Dawson to Star in Horror-Thriller The Lesson

Per Deadline, Tiffany Haddish and Rosario Dawson are attached to headline The Lesson, a new horror-thriller from executive producer-turned-director JoJo Ryder, who also penned the script. The project marks Ryder’s feature directorial debut.

The film centers on a devoted teacher whose death triggers a series of disturbing events that begin to haunt his former students. As unsettling incidents escalate, buried secrets and unresolved guilt resurface, forcing the group to confront a past they believed was long buried. Additional casting is currently underway, with production aiming to begin later this year in Los Angeles.

On the surface, The Lesson fits squarely into supernatural guilt-horror territory — trauma revisited, past sins refusing to stay quiet. But with Haddish and Dawson attached, the tonal range could stretch beyond conventional genre beats.

Haddish, coming off Bad Boys: Ride or Die, is in post-production on multiple projects including The Toad, The Deputy and Motion. In a statement, the Grammy and Emmy winner said the film’s layered themes drew her in.

“What drew me to The Lesson was how layered it is,” Haddish said. “It’s not just horror — it’s about choices, consequences, and the things we think we can walk away from. Audiences are in for something unexpected.”

Dawson, a five-time Critics’ Choice nominee known most recently for Ahsoka, echoed that enthusiasm.

“I’m excited about the project, looking forward to be working with Tiffany and JoJo,” Dawson said.

Ryder, whose executive producing credits include American Heist, The Bachelor, Mack & Rita and A Little White Lie, emphasized the emotional demands of the script.

“They bring intensity, range, and a fearless presence that elevates every scene,” Ryder said of his two leads. “This story demands emotional depth as much as suspense, and they deliver both.”

Executive producers include Shaun Kowlessar, Jeff Williams, Lindsay Butler and Ryder Media.

For horror fans, The Lesson signals another intriguing pivot: established dramatic and comedic performers stepping deeper into genre storytelling that leans into psychological dread. The premise — unresolved guilt manifesting into something supernatural — has classic bones. The question will be how Ryder shapes that tension in his first time behind the camera.

With production slated for Los Angeles later this year, The Lesson positions itself as a character-driven horror-thriller built on consequence — the idea that some lessons don’t end when the bell rings.

We’ll be watching closely as more casting details emerge.