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John Herzfeld Joins Producers Chase Vergari and Eric Handler for Horror-Thriller ‘Specimen’
The Apex Times

THE APEX TIMES

Culture/The Apex Times/Jun 25, 11:45 AM EDT

John Herzfeld Joins Producers Chase Vergari and Eric Handler for Horror-Thriller ‘Specimen’

The veteran filmmaker, known for Escape Plan: The Extractors and HBO’s Don King: Only in America, is teaming with producer-financiers Chase Vergari and Eric Handler on the upcoming horror-thriller Specimen, according to an industry report published June 25.

1 min readEditor-approved Apex article

Director John Herzfeld has signed on to direct the horror-thriller Specimen, teaming with producer-financiers Chase Vergari and Eric Handler, Deadline reported on June 25, 2026.

The report frames Specimen as Herzfeld’s next project after a career that includes directing Escape Plan: The Extractors and 15 Minutes, and helming HBO’s Emmy-winning biographical film Don King: Only in America.

Deadline described Vergari and Handler as the producers behind Specimen, with the team assembling on a genre title that will add to their slate of film and development work.

According to the same report, Eric Handler’s recent credits include an upcoming action film Mister starring Walton Goggins, alongside other projects.

No release date, studio attachment, casting details, or production start timeline were included in the report. It also did not specify a distributor or the project’s budget range or filming locations.

For Herzfeld, the move continues a pattern of working across high-stakes, thriller-oriented material. His earlier credits span action and crime elements, and his Emmy-winning work for HBO reflects experience with prestige drama as well.

The next steps for Specimen will likely center on finalizing the creative team and obtaining further financing and distribution commitments, matters that typically follow once a director is attached and production planning begins.

Why It Matters

  • A director attachment can be a key milestone for genre films as financing, casting, and scheduling typically move forward once leadership is set.
  • Specimen’s development adds to the current slate of mid-to-high budget thriller and horror projects competing for distribution and audience attention.
  • Herzfeld’s track record in thriller and crime material may influence how producers approach tone, market positioning, and production planning.
  • Because the report did not name a distributor or release date, the immediate public impact is limited, but industry follow-up will indicate when the project enters formal studio or sales processes.

Sources

Key Facts

  • Deadline reported on June 25, 2026 that John Herzfeld is aboard to direct the horror-thriller Specimen.
  • Deadline said Specimen is being produced by producer-financiers Chase Vergari and Eric Handler.
  • Deadline cited Herzfeld’s prior directing credits including Escape Plan: The Extractors and 15 Minutes.
  • Deadline also cited Herzfeld’s HBO Emmy-winning film Don King: Only in America.
  • The Deadline report referenced Handler’s recent credits including an upcoming Walton Goggins action film Mister.
  • The report did not provide a release date, casting, or distributor attachment for Specimen.