Forget 'Wicked,' 2026's Next Best Horror Puts an Unhinged Twist on 'The Wizard of Oz'

Image via Sundance Film Festival Published Aug 26, 2026, 5:48 PM EDT Sign in to your Collider account Summary Collider's Perri Nemiroff chats with Buddy's Casper Kelly, Keegan-Michael Key, and Delaney Quinn at SDCC 2026. The trio discusses how Key helped transform Buddy when he signed on, the young cast's stellar performances, and capturing Kelly's vision. They also tease what they hope to do next in the horror genre and their favorite fandoms! Filmmaker Casper Kelly’s name is now synonymous with his 2014 Adult Swim short, Too Many Cooks. Even now, the tune earworms its way into your brain, conjuring up the surreal horror of his never-ending sitcom intro. You may also recognize his name from Shudder’s V/H/S/Halloween last year, or as a co-writer for Panos Cosmatos’s brutal psychological thriller, Mandy. This year, at San Diego Comic-Con, Collider’s Perri Nemiroff had the opportunity to celebrate Kelly for his upcoming feature directorial debut, Buddy, starring Keegan-Michael Key (The Super Mario Galaxy Movie) and Delaney Quinn (The Roses). The trailer teases a candy-colored world reminiscent of Barney and Blue's Clues, with talking mailboxes and a catchy, upbeat theme song. At the heart of it all is the bright orange unicorn, Buddy, the star of this classic children’s television show — but lurking beneath the magic and friendship is something sinister and violent. When one child refuses to play along with Buddy’s rules, this perfect world begins to crumble. Buddy also stars Cristin Milioti (The Penguin), Topher Grace (That ‘70s Show), and Patton Oswalt (The Dink). Don’t miss the full conversation in the video above, with time codes provided below, where Kelly, Key, and Quinn sit down with Nemiroff to discuss joining the project, how it transformed when Key got involved, and why he couldn’t resist after he saw the finished cut. Plus, the trio share which fandoms stole their hearts early on and what kind of horror projects they’ve got their eyes on for the future. 00:47 - The Buddy Team Share Their First Experiences With Fandom at Comic-Con 2026! 02:46 - Casper Kelly Reveals a Last-Minute Detail Hidden in the Set 03:49 - Seeing the Finished Film Convinced Keegan-Michael Key He Had to Join Buddy 05:26 - Kelly and Key Explain How Buddy Evolved With Key’s Experimental Approach 07:21 - Delaney Quinn Explains Why Key’s Work Surprised Her 08:40 - Quinn and Key Highlight Kelly’s Imagination and World-Building 09:25 - Kelly Says Quinn’s Audition Reignited His Belief in Buddy’s Script 10:35 - The Buddy Director Also Gives High Praise to the Young Supporting Cast 11:23 - Kelly, Key, and Quinn Reveal What’s Up Next on Their Horror Bucket Lists! Buddy opens in theaters on August 28. Release Date September 4, 2026 Runtime 95 minutes Director Casper Kelly Writers Casper Kelly, Jamie King Producers Drew Sykes, J.D. Lifshitz, Raphael Margules, Tracy Rosenblum, Tyler Davidson Cast