The script by Matias Caruso (he penned the Black List screenplay Carnival) tells of a virus capable of making people act out their wildest impulses that infects a corporate law office on the very day attorney Derek Saunders (Yeun) is framed by a co-worker and wrongfully fired. Trapped in the quarantined building, our hero is forced to fight tooth and nail for not only his job, but also his life.

Said Lynch: “It’s not every day you get to throw action, sci-fi, horror, drama and even satire in the genre blender and hit puree, but Matias’ script, combined with a gung-ho cast and crew — especially Steven and Samara — will make for a deliciously dangerous and exciting cinematic smoothie ... with a hell of a kick.”

The film is being financed by Avva Pictures, with Avva principal Mehrdad Elie also producing; Avva’s president of production, Parisa Caviani, is executive producing. Paradigm arranged financing and is handling North American distribution rights.

Mayhem is due to begin principal photography later this month on location in Belgrade, Serbia.

The movie will be a major move for Yeun, who since breaking out on Walking Dead has largely stuck to making a few handful appearances on the small screen and doing some voicework, although he did star in 2014 indie sci-fi movie I Origins. Yeun is repped by Paradigm, Gotham/Principal and attorney Adam Kaller.

Weaving is a rising actress who cut her teeth on the Australian soap Home and Away. She has also appeared in Ash vs Evil Dead and has Paramount’s Monster Trucks awaiting a 2017 release. Weaving is repped by CAA and Untitled, and by Shanahan Management in Australia.

Lynch is repped at Paradigm, Anonymous and attorney Rob Szymanski, while Caruso by CAA, Untitled and Weintraub Tobin.