EXCLUSIVE: Saban Films has acquired North American rights to Jeffrey Scott Collins’ The Caged starring Tamzin Merchant (Carnival Row), Edmund Kingsley (Dirty Angels), Raffiella Chapman (Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children) and newcomer Callen Carter.

Inspired by true events, the horror film follows a family that is terrorized by a dark presence after they move into a quaint cottage in an unassuming English coastal town.

Uncovering its history, they discover their once dream home lies on the site of a medieval prison set aside for those accused of witchcraft, including England’s most notorious witch, hanged in 1582.

The deal was negotiated by Steve Break on behalf of Saban Films, and by The Coven on behalf of the filmmakers. The Coven is also handling international sales.

Collins directed the film from a script he also wrote. Producers are Joseph C. Grano (Dolly) at Set Point Entertainment; Collins (Above the Line), under his Seems Reel Entertainment; Gaby Whyte Hart (Just Play Dead) at Fearless Productions; and Llewelynn Greeff (Young Guns) at Dark Matter Studios.

Priscilla Smith and Kendall Anlian (Terrifier) of The Coven serve as Executive Producers, alongside Adam Margules (The Vigil) through his company, Angry Adam Productions, along with Daniel Hockley, Ian Dawson, Rupert Hollier, Simon Fawcett, Christian Sheedy, Michael Santos, and Ken Davenport. Arran MacLennan, Jed Tune, and Cory Levin serve as Co-producers.

It is Collins’ second feature after Above the Line, which was released in June by Quiver Distribution.

“The Caged centers around one of the most extraordinary and terrifying events and places in England’s history. With that as the foundation, it delves into complex family and marital dynamics and explores how they are tested when thrust into a horrifying pressure cooker,” said Collins.

 “Much like my favorite horror films, The Caged is very real and grounded, with rich, layered characters, and aims to terrify its audience both physically and psychologically. I’m so thrilled the Saban team loves the film so much, and I can’t wait to work with them, as well as The Coven team, to scare audiences around the world.”

Note: This story contains spoilers from “House of the Dragon” Season 3, Episode 7.

“House of the Dragon” brought one character back from the “dead,” and his return could put book fates back on track.

The penultimate episode of “House of the Dragon” Season 3 re-introduced a character that seemed to be dead since halfway through the previous season. A character whose body we’d seen a couple of times, which seemed to confirm the death. But never count a dragon out because Sunfyre is back on the board.

Aegon’s dragon made his triumphant return to the land of the living which means a lot for Aegon’s story — but also a lot for how one of the biggest characters in the show could meet their end.

Here’s how Sunfyre was re-introduced, how he could have possibly returned from the dead, and what it means for the rapidly approaching final season.

How did Episode 7 end?

The ending of Episode 7 finds Aegon and Tyland ready to give up on running and face Rhaenyra’s army heading to Tumbleton. It’s essentially assisted suicide but after everything that happened at Rook’s Rest, Aegon is ready to be done with it all and die on his feet.

The army appears and is quick to recognize Tyland, but Aegon is so burned he’s just seen as a down-on-his-luck soldier. That is until he takes up a sword and steps forward to reveal who he really is. He makes an impassioned speech about being the rightful ruler and the entire army begins to shy away. By the end of his ramblings, Aegon is surprised himself but further emboldened by the reaction until he realizes the army is looking past him.

Pushing through the woods is Sunfyre — looking as equally maimed and rough as his rider. Aegon is shocked to see his dragon alive after last seeing him dead on the ground outside Rook’s Rest, but then quickly turns back to the task at hand and orders his returned dragon to burn the army.

How did Sunfyre return?

The hows and whys behind Sunfyre’s return are a bit of a mystery. The most likely reason is that the dragon was lying completely dormant where he fell during the Battle of Rook’s Rest and appeared dead. When Aegon saw his dragon in Episode 4 he was adamant he could feel that Sunfyre is alive — despite the fact the dragon hasn’t moved, breathed or eaten since he fell. The dragon’s return is most likely going to be shoulder-shrugged into him having been in a dormant or meditative state that looked like death but wasn’t.

A more fun, and very unlikely possibility was that Aegon somehow managed to stumble into using blood magic to revive his dragon. In the previous episode, Aegon killed a man before he fled from Rook’s Rest. He did so while having one of Sunfyre’s scales on his person. There is a sliver of a chance that the killing was used in some blood magic ritual or sacrifice that Aegon was not even aware of. Again, that’s highly unlikely because there is nothing in the book that hints toward Aegon being able to pull off blood magic, but it’s a theory nonetheless.

How Sunfyre’s return puts things back on course for one character’s fate

Spoilers for the Fire & Blood book and possible spoilers for “House of the Dragon” Season 4

In the books, Sunfyre is extremely wounded by Meleys at the Battle of Rook’s Rest but doesn’t die. Criston Cole and his men find the dragon and slowly feed him until he can build up his strength to fly back to King’s Landing. It’s slow-going, and much like Aegon, Sunfyre is crippled and scarred for life but he’s still alive.

After a series of losses and betrayals, Rhaenyra flees King’s Landing and returns to Dragonstone. She isn’t there long before she is captured and brought before Aegon and his crippled dragon. The king hands out Rhaenyra’s fate and Sunfyre burns her alive and devours her in six bites.

With Sunfyre back on the board, it seems likely that Rhaenyra’s final fate could be back on track as well. But with “House of the Dragon,” you never know.

“House of the Dragon” airs Sundays on HBO and HBO Max.

Scott Pelley and Sharyn Alfonsi have landed their first major public roles since leaving “60 Minutes,” with Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism naming the veteran journalists its journalists-in-residence for the 2026-27 academic year.

The appointments, announced Monday, come months after both correspondents exited the CBS News newsmagazine amid a sweeping overhaul under editor-in-chief Bari Weiss and executive producer Nick Bilton.

As journalists-in-residence, Pelley and Alfonsi will work closely with students through lectures, workshops and special events focused on reporting, investigative journalism and sourcing. They will also each contribute an article to the “Columbia Journalism Review.”

“We’re both excited and honored to welcome two journalists of this caliber to our Journalist in Residence Program,” Columbia Journalism School Dean Jelani Cobb said in a Monday statement. “Their distinguished track records in investigative reporting highlight the amazing opportunity our students will have to learn from them.”

The appointments are part of Columbia Journalism School’s CJS2030: Democracy Initiative, which aims to strengthen accountability reporting and investigative journalism.

Pelley and Alfonsi are among several recent high-profile departures from “60 Minutes” following a dramatic leadership transition at CBS News. EP Nick Bilton replaced longtime executive producer Tanya Simon earlier this year, while Weiss has reshaped the flagship series’ editorial leadership and correspondent roster.

Alfonsi, who joined “60 Minutes” in 2015 after reporting for CBS News and ABC News, built a reputation for investigative reporting on immigration, public health, politics and criminal justice. During her tenure, she earned multiple Emmy Awards and an Alfred I. duPont-Columbia Award.

“Joining Columbia University as a Journalist in Residence is an extraordinary privilege, especially at a time when deep, rigorous and fearless reporting has never been more vital,” Alfonsi said in a statement. “I’m excited to work with the next generation of journalists who are eager to ask the tough questions that hold power accountable.”

Pelley arrives at Columbia after a 37-year career at CBS News, including 27 years as a “60 Minutes” correspondent and a stint as anchor and managing editor of “CBS Evening News.” Over his career, he reported from conflict zones around the world, interviewed multiple U.S. presidents and earned dozens of journalism honors, including 51 Emmy Awards, three Peabody Awards and four Alfred I. duPont-Columbia Awards.

“This is a critical time for a free press,” Pelley added. “Columbia is leading the way in training the next generation of great journalists and I am honored to join Sharyn in that vital cause.”

The appointments mark the latest chapter for two of television journalism’s most recognizable reporters as they transition from one of the industry’s most influential news programs to mentoring the next generation of journalists.