Xochitl Gomez Starring in Horror Short ‘Hive’ (Exclusive)

Xochitl Gomez, best known for playing Marvel heroine America Chavez in the studio’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, is shooting Hive, a horror short from rising Colombian-American filmmaker Felipe Vargas.

Written and directed by Vargas, Hive stars Gomez as a teenage babysitter who loses the young girl she’s taking care of at an idyllic playground and is forced to confront an insidious entity hidden among the children. Gomez stars alongside Lorelei Olivia Mote, a tyke who has appeared in American Horror Story and Daisy Jones & the Six.

The story is being told in real time and and set in the bright daylight of the outdoors, something the filmmakers think differentiates their project from most horror projects. 

“Working with Felipe on Hive brought me back to the pure fun of filmmaking,” Gomez tells The Hollywood Reporter. “He’s precise and playful, being aware of every detail while also nurturing a lively atmosphere on set.”

Hive is produced by Nick Scully, Nicole Crespo and Bijan Kazerooni and co-financed by Film Independent.   The film is heading into post and hopes to hit some late year festival circuits.

Vargas made his debut with cool 2020 viral short Milk Teeth, which garnered him Hollywood attention. He made his feature debut with indie horror film Rosario, which stars Emeraude Toubia and David Dastmalchian and was produced by Mucho Mas Media and Silk Mass.

Vargas has continued his upward trajectory since, nabbing the gig of directing the next installment of horror franchise Leprechaun for Lionsgate and being hired to pen a Bob the Builder feature for Mattel Films.  

Gomez is due to be part of the voice ensemble for Warner Bros.’s new adaptation of The Cat in the Hat, a roll call that will also include Bill Hader and Quinta Brunson, among others.

Find an early look at Hive below.