Back in the 70s, one of the best knock offs of Jaws was the killer whale movie Orca. After that it’s Renny Harlin’s Deep Blue Sea in 1999. Now those two ideas will meet as Harlin is feeling safe in the water again with a new horror film featuring a killer whale titled Black Tides.
Deadline reports that it will start shooting at the end of summer with what we are are guessing a 2026 release. The publication states that the filmmakers behind the project will be “shot old-school, with in-camera effects and real water work”.
The 66-year-old director is known for his making well-crafted action films such as The Long Kiss Goodnight, Die Hard 2, and Cliffhanger. As for this project, he says, “This film grabs you by the throat and the heart. I’m going back to the kind of filmmaking I love—intense, physical, and immersive. This one is built for the big screen.”
The plot details are as follows: “The film will tell the story of Rebecca, who reunites with her estranged father, Bill, in sunny Málaga expecting a healing family trip with her young son, Sebastian. Instead, their voyage across the Strait of Gibraltar becomes a nightmare as they’re relentlessly attacked by rogue orcas. Rebecca, confronting deep emotional wounds, must rise as an unlikely hero in a battle for survival.”
Here is the 1977 Orca trailer (Harlin’s movie is not a re-make of this).
Producer Adrián Guerra said: “We’re going back to what makes thrillers unforgettable—precision filmmaking, real tension, and emotional weight. Every shot is designed to build pressure, every choice anchored in character. Shot in real conditions, this is a physical, immersive experience made for the cinema. It doesn’t just entertain—it holds you in its grip.”
In the horror space, Harlin has directed a few films. Perhaps most notable are A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master, The Covenant and more recently a three-film remake of The Strangers.
The Strangers: Chapter Two is scheduled to be released in September 26, 2025.