– The Spanish genre specialist is preparing a Lovecraft-inspired adult horror tale that will blend cosmic terror, anthology storytelling and 3D animation
Ages of Madness: The Howling of the Jinn by Álex de la Iglesia (© 3Doubles Producciones)
Spanish filmmaker Álex de la Iglesia is set to make his animation debut with Ages of Madness: The Howling of the Jinn, an ambitious adult-orientated 3D animated feature inspired by the mythos of US horror writer HP Lovecraft. The project was recently unveiled at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival.
According to initial information, the story unfolds through several tragically intertwined narratives. At its centre is the legendary forbidden book known as the Necronomicon, a cornerstone of Lovecraft’s literary mythology, which travels through time across four historical and geographical settings that are as distant as they are ominous. Feeding on humanity’s thirst for forbidden knowledge, it unleashes madness in its wake and the certainty that humanity is nothing more than the dust of the Ancient Ones.
Furthermore, the synopsis reads: “In a world on the brink of chaos, where ancient gods threaten to awaken, a disparate group of people – a young woman trapped within a sinister cult, a detective confronting the occult and a man burdened by the horrors of another era – find themselves connected by a forbidden book that may hold the key to humanity’s survival or its destruction.”
Over a career spanning more than three decades, de la Iglesia has explored a wide range of genres, from visceral horror to black comedy, establishing himself as one of Europe’s foremost genre filmmakers. He has built an international reputation through films such as The Day of the Beast, Common Wealth, The Last Circus and The Bar, as well as the HBO series 30 Coins.
Although this marks his first experience directing animation, the project also represents a return to his artistic roots as a comic-book artist and illustrator. Born in Bilbao, the filmmaker began his career working in comics, collaborating on fanzines and magazines. During this period, he created the series El Asunto Castafiore and was part of the team behind Burdinjaun, widely regarded as the first Basque superhero.
“Before making films, I used to draw monsters. I started out making comics, and animation has always been there. Ages of Madness gives me the chance to reconnect with my beginnings and to do so surrounded by enormously talented people. I’m incredibly excited because I feel that, after so many years making films, I can still face something new with the enthusiasm of the very first day,” de la Iglesia commented.
Ages of Madness: The Howling of the Jinn is being produced by Darío Sánchez for Tenerife-based studio 3Doubles Producciones in co-production with Biscay-based Sumendi Uhartea and Madrid-based Pokeepsie Films, the company that de la Iglesia runs with his wife, Carolina Bang. Sánchez described the film as a milestone both for the companies involved and for the wider Spanish animation industry: “I have always been fascinated by Lovecraft’s universe, and being able to bring that cosmic horror to the screen together with Álex de la Iglesia is a dream come true. I am convinced that we are at a turning point for our sector: adult animation is booming, and this project will place the Spanish industry on the global map.”
Ages of Madness: The Howling of the Jinn is currently in development, with production expected to commence at the end of 2026. No release date has yet been announced.
