Sony Pictures has cast Belmont Cameli as Brom Bones in its upcoming film Hollow, a reimagining of Washington Irving’s classic The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. The Off Campus star will join Sydney Sweeney, who leads the project as Katrina Van Tassel, according to an exclusive report from Deadline.

Cameli’s casting fills one of the key roles in the story’s central love triangle. Producers are still searching for an actor to play Ichabod Crane. The film is based on filmmaker Lindsey Anderson Beer’s forthcoming debut novel of the same name, which is scheduled for publication by Putnam, an imprint of Penguin Random House, in fall 2027. Beer is adapting her own book and will also direct the feature.

Hollow reframes the familiar tale from Katrina Van Tassel’s perspective. In the original 1820 short story, Katrina is largely positioned as the romantic prize sought by the superstitious schoolmaster Ichabod Crane and his rival, the boisterous Brom Bones.

Beer’s version places Van Tassel at the center of a dangerous mystery and a seductive supernatural love triangle. The story blends gothic atmosphere, psychological intrigue, and erotic thriller elements into a contemporary reinvention of the classic legend.

Production Process

Sweeney is producing the film through her newly launched production company Honey Trap, marking the banner’s first feature. LuckyChap Entertainment, the company co-founded by Margot Robbie, is also producing, alongside Beer through her Lab Brew banner.

Honey Trap recently secured a first-look deal with Sony Pictures. Kaylee McGregor serves as president of production and development at Honey Trap.

Cameli is coming off a significant breakout with the Prime Video series Off Campus, an adaptation of Elle Kennedy’s popular book series. The show drew 36 million viewers in its first 12 days of streaming. He has also appeared in the recent films Until Dawn and The Alto Knights.

Represented by Gersh, Brillstein Entertainment Partners, Viewpoint, and Hansen Jacobson, Cameli’s casting represents a notable step into a major studio genre project.

Sweeney continues a busy period that has included the successful Lionsgate adaptation of The Housemaid opposite Amanda Seyfried, which performed strongly at the box office and led to a sequel greenlight, as well as her critically noted performance as boxer Christy Martin in the David Michôd-directed film Christy. Brillstein Entertainment Partners, CAA, and Hansen Jacobson represent her.

Beer previously directed the Stephen King prequel Pet Sematary: Bloodlines, which premiered at Fantastic Fest and set viewership records for Paramount+. She also wrote and executive produced the Netflix film Sierra Burgess Is a Loser, which debuted at No. 1 globally and featured the chart-topping song “Sunflower,” which she co-wrote. Her company Lab Brew holds a first-look deal with Paramount Skydance. She is represented by WME, Brillstein Entertainment Partners, and Gang Tyre Ramer Brown.

The project moved quickly once Sony landed the package earlier this year. Deadline had previously reported that the studio acquired the rights in a competitive situation, with Sweeney, Honey Trap, and LuckyChap committing in short order.

Casting for the two male leads opposite Sweeney became one of the more closely watched open searches in Hollywood, and Cameli secured the role of Brom Bones swiftly.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow has been adapted many times, most famously in Tim Burton’s 1999 film starring Johnny Depp as Ichabod Crane and Christina Ricci as Katrina Van Tassel. Beer’s take aims for a distinctly different tone and perspective, emphasizing Katrina’s agency and weaving in psychological and erotic thriller elements alongside the gothic supernatural tradition.

No start date for production or release window has been announced. The novel itself will not hit shelves until fall 2027, meaning the film adaptation is advancing ahead of the book’s publication-an unusual but increasingly common practice for high-profile literary packages. International translation rights for the novel have already been secured for a global launch.

Cameli’s addition strengthens the project’s momentum as Sony continues to search for its Ichabod Crane. With Sweeney’s star power, Beer’s dual role as writer-director of her own material, and strong producing partners including LuckyChap and Honey Trap, Hollow is positioned as one of the more closely watched genre films in development.

Fans of the classic tale and of Sweeney’s recent work will be watching for further casting news and eventual production updates as the project moves forward.