A new movie starring “The Incredible Hulk” actor Lou Ferrigno is finally heading to theaters.
“The Hermit,” which was partly shot in Central New York, will be released in early 2026, according to Variety. The indie horror film was picked up by film distributor Uncork’d Entertainment in a deal with Gato Scatena of S&R Films on behalf of Chrome Entertainment at the Toronto Film Festival.
The movie, directed by Salvatore Sclafani, stars Ferrigno as a murderous, cannibalistic pig farmer who cooks people and makes them into jerky. Malina Weissman (“A Series of Unfortunate Events”) and Anthony Turpel (“The Bold & The Beautiful” play teenagers dragged on a vacation to the woods when they must fight for their lives against Ferrigno’s hermit character.
“The Hermit” was originally set to be filmed completely in the Syracuse area, but production was paused in August 2022 because of several issues, including an actor’s injury and crew members walking off the set over a pay dispute. $24,000 worth of grip and electrical equipment was also stolen from the set, according to a Syracuse police report filed that November.
Ferrigno, a champion bodybuilder and actor who’s appeared in more than 75 movies and TV shows, was named an honorary Syracuse police officer while in town. A farm in South Onondaga was used for scenes with his character’s home.
Weissman, best known for playing Violet Baudelaire in “A Series of Unfortunate Events” and a young Kara Zor-El on “Supergirl,” was injured on the set in Syracuse when she got glue in her eye. Producer Gerry Pass said a microscopic knife was needed and she lost her eyelashes, preventing her from filming scenes for five days in August 2022.
“The Hermit” was also delayed by heavy rains and when David Wolfgang, the director of photography, had to go to the hospital to have a gallbladder removed. But money issues were the largest obstacle as the film crew went on strike during the third week of production when investors’ payments fell behind for some labor, equipment and construction costs.
Pass told syracuse.com | The Post-Standard in 2023 that they would complete the movie in California after securing new funding. According to IMDb, scenes were shot in Thousand Oaks, near Los Angeles, though it’s unclear when.
Pass said he was open to returning to Syracuse for another production in the future. He previously worked as an executive producer on “Manodrome,” shot in Syracuse between November 2021 and January 2022 with Jesse Eisenberg and Adrien Brody.
“I’d still come back, but next time with a different set of eyes and ears,” Pass insisted.
A specific release date has not been announced for “The Hermit”; it’s unclear which theaters will show the film. A trailer can be seen at Variety.
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