Full Breakdown
Steve Guttenberg Leads Cast of New Horror Film “The Dybbuk”
7/8/2026, 1:10:34 AM
Film Overview: Production and Premise
“The Dybbuk” is a horror film currently in post-production. It is a contemporary adaptation of S. Ansky’s early-20th-century play about a malevolent spirit. The narrative follows Rabbi Azrael, a spiritual leader tasked with a dangerous exorcism after the spirit of a dead man possesses a young woman in his congregation. Steve Guttenberg portrays Rabbi Azrael, while Craig Bierko appears as Sender, the possessed woman’s father, and Beth Grant plays Frayda, her grandmother. Filming concluded recently in Los Angeles.
Literary and Cinematic Background
S. Ansky’s play *The Dybbuk* has long served as a source for Jewish folklore in cinema. The 2012 Sony Screen Gems release *The Possession* also drew on the dybbuk legend, depicting a haunted box opened by a suburban family. The new film revisits the same folklore through a modern setting, positioning the dybbuk as a possession that afflicts a congregant rather than an object.
Principal Cast and Their Roles
Steve Guttenberg, known for the *Police Academy* series, leads the ensemble as Rabbi Azrael. Beth Grant, whose recent credits include *No Country for Old Men*, portrays Frayda, the grandmother who witnesses the possession. Craig Bierko, a Tony-nominee for *Cinderella Man*, appears as Sender, the father confronting the supernatural threat. Their casting aligns with the film’s blend of seasoned character actors and genre-focused storytelling.
Director and Producer Profile
Lee Amir-Cohen makes his feature-length directorial debut with *The Dybbuk*. He previously wrote, directed, produced, and starred in the fantasy-horror short *The Other Place*, which was produced by Ashley Bua and distributed by ShortsTV. Amir-Cohen’s acting résumé includes roles in *The Chosen*, *For the People*, and *L.A.’s Finest*. Ashley Bua serves as writer-producer, overseeing the script development and production logistics alongside Amir-Cohen.
Production Company and Representation
*The Dybbuk* is produced under the Synescope Studios banner, a joint venture of Amir-Cohen and Bua. Representation for the principal talent includes Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and Vault Entertainment for Guttenberg, Buchwald for Grant, and Echo Lake Entertainment and Frontline Management for Bierko. Amir-Cohen and Bua are represented by Shaun Gordon at Weintraub Tobin. These affiliations indicate a coordinated effort among established agencies to support the film’s market positioning.
Official Information on Project Status
Both Deadline and Dread Central report that principal photography has wrapped in Los Angeles, confirming that the film has entered post-production. No release date or distribution partner has been disclosed in the available statements. The production’s public communications focus on the completed shoot and the involvement of the named cast and crew.
Cultural Significance and Genre Context
*The Dybbuk* follows the 2012 film *The Possession* in bringing the dybbuk legend to contemporary horror cinema. By placing the dybbuk myth within a present-day American congregation, the film continues the trend of integrating Jewish folklore into mainstream genre narratives.
