Iron Lung (film)

Last updated

Iron Lung
Iron Lung (film) poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Mark Fischbach
Written byMark Fischbach
Based on Iron Lung
by David Szymanski
Produced by
  • Will Hyde
  • Jeff Guerrero
  • Amy Nelson
Starring
CinematographyPhilip Roy
Edited byMark Fischbach
Music by Andrew Hulshult
Production
company
Markiplier Studios
Distributed byMarkiplier Studios
Release date
  • January 30, 2026 (2026-01-30)
Running time
127 minutes [1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Iron Lung is an upcoming American science fiction horror film written, directed, executive produced, edited by, and starring Mark Fischbach in his feature directorial debut. Produced and distributed by Markiplier Studios, it is an adaptation of the 2022 video game of the same name by David Szymanski, and also stars Caroline Rose Kaplan, Seán McLoughlin, Szymanski, Troy Baker, Elsie Lovelock, and Isaac McKee in supporting roles.

Contents

Development on a Iron Lung film adaptation began in April 2023, when YouTuber Mark Fischbach, known online as Markiplier, announced he would be adapting the game into a horror film. Fischbach, who had previously played Iron Lung on his channel, announced the film would be self-financed, star himself alongside co-star Caroline Rose Kaplan, and use his own script. Szymanski has also confirmed that he has been involved with the film since pre-production, assisting with its screenplay and being on set during filming, and that he is set to have a small cameo in the film. It is set to be the first theatrical film directed and produced by Fischbach, who co-produced it alongside Will Hyde and Jeff Guerrero.

Iron Lung is scheduled to be released on January 30, 2026.

Premise

The film is set in a post-apocalyptic future after an event known as "The Quiet Rapture" caused all known stars and habitable planets in the universe to disappear. A convict (Mark Fischbach) is sent to explore an ocean of blood discovered on a desolate moon using a poorly constructed midget submarine nicknamed the "Iron Lung". [2]

Cast

Production

Mark Fischbach directed, edited, wrote, stars in, and funded Iron Lung. Markiplier (29479437367) (cropped).jpg
Mark Fischbach directed, edited, wrote, stars in, and funded Iron Lung.

Development

On February 16, 2023, David Szymanski jokingly announced on Twitter that Mark Fischbach and Seán McLoughlin (known by their online usernames Markiplier and Jacksepticeye, respectively) would be starring in a film adaptation of the game Iron Lung which Fischbach and McLoughlin both played, with a soundtrack by Andrew Hulshult, slated for a summer release. [7] [8] In an interview with Variety on March 8, 2023, Fischbach confirmed he was directing, writing, and acting for a film, but did not state what it was. [3] On May 7, 2023, McLoughlin confirmed on Twitter that he would be in the film. [9] Szymanski has assisted with the script and pre-production of the film, and is also set to have a cameo in the film. [8] Andrew Hulshult was also confirmed to be scoring the film. [10] Iron Lung is the first film soundtrack that Hulshult worked on. [11]

Filming

On April 21, 2023, Fischbach officially announced a film adaptation of Iron Lung with the release of a teaser trailer. [2] [12] [13] Additionally, Deadline Hollywood reported that Fischbach was also self-financing the film, co-starring with Caroline Rose Kaplan, and producing with Will Hyde and Jeff Guerrero; filming had already commenced in Austin, Texas. [14] Szymanski confirmed the film is intended for a theatrical release, [15] marking the film as Fischbach's first theatrical film; he previously directed and wrote the YouTube Original interactive films A Heist with Markiplier (2019) and In Space with Markiplier (2022). [14]

During production, Fischbach confirmed that Iron Lung will contain the most fake blood of any horror film, beating 2013 film Evil Dead 's 50,000 US gallons (190,000 L); [16] [17] during filming, he went to the hospital due to getting too much fake blood in his eyes. [18] In a YouTube livestream posted on December 7, 2025 he revealed that the approximate amount of blood for the final movie was over 80,000 US gallons (300,000 L). [19]

Post-production

On April 29, 2023, Fischbach announced on his YouTube channel that filming had been completed, marking the beginning of the editing and post-production process. [20] In July 2023, Fischbach revealed that he is a member of SAG-AFTRA, and that the production of Iron Lung would be delayed due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. [21] [22] On October 14, 2023, Fischbach published the official trailer of the movie on his YouTube channel. [23] [24] On October 16, in a livestream on his YouTube channel, he stated that he had turned down a role in Five Nights at Freddy's in order to produce Iron Lung, due to the two films having conflicting production schedules. [25]

Release

In June 2024, Fischbach announced that the film was "officially done", and that he was in the process of negotiating the film's release. [26] Initially set for a limited release, Iron Lung is scheduled to be released in the United States and Canada on January 30, 2026 in over 2,000 theatres. [27]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Markiplier's IRON LUNG | IN THEATERS JANUARY 30". ironlung.com. Retrieved December 6, 2025.
  2. 1 2 Wolinsky, David (April 21, 2023). "Markiplier Takes Lead Role, Director's Chair In Iron Lung Horror Film Adaptation". GameSpot . Archived from the original on May 12, 2023. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  3. 1 2 Spangler, Todd (December 5, 2025). "YouTube Star Markiplier's Self-Financed Horror Movie 'Iron Lung' to Hit Theaters in January". Variety. Retrieved December 12, 2025.
  4. ↑ McGowan, Elisabeth (December 6, 2025). "'Iron Lung' Cast: Meet the Stars in Markiplier's 2026 Horror Movie". Hollywood Life. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Isaac McKee". TVGuide.com. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  6. ↑ Singh, Yash (December 7, 2025). "Iron Lung cast and characters: Here's who's bringing the 2026 horror film to life". www.soapcentral.com. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  7. ↑ Szymanski, David [@DUSKdev] (February 16, 2023). "This summer. Starring Markiplier as John Iron Lung and Jacksepticeye as The Fish. Soundtrack by @AndrewHulshult" (Tweet). Archived from the original on April 21, 2023. Retrieved April 24, 2023– via Twitter.
  8. 1 2 Myers, Maddy (April 21, 2023). "Markiplier to direct and star in movie adaptation of horror game Iron Lung". Polygon . Archived from the original on April 29, 2023. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  9. ↑ McLoughlin, Seán [@Jacksepticeye] (May 7, 2023). "I am in it but not as a voice" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  10. ↑ Brunner, Raven (April 21, 2023). "Iron Lung: YouTuber Markiplier Releases Scary Trailer For Video Game Adaptation". Decider . Archived from the original on May 20, 2023. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Andrew Hulshult 2024 Interview: DOOM IDKFA, Blood Swamps, DUSK, Iron Lung, AMID EVIL, Music, Guitars, Cold Brew Coffee, and More – TouchArcade". September 16, 2024. Archived from the original on October 1, 2024. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  12. ↑ Handley, Zoey (April 21, 2023). "Iron Lung is being adapted to film by Markiplier". Destructoid . Archived from the original on October 17, 2023. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  13. ↑ Blake, Vikki (April 22, 2023). "Markiplier is set to finance, write, and star in a movie adaptation of indie horror, Iron Lung". Eurogamer . Archived from the original on July 13, 2023. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
  14. 1 2 Grobar, Matt (April 21, 2023). "Markiplier To Star In & Direct Horror Film 'Iron Lung' From His Own Script; Self-Financed Feature Adapts David Szymanski Video Game". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on April 21, 2023. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  15. ↑ Szymanski, David [@DUSKdev] (April 21, 2023). "And for those of you asking, yes this is intended as a theatrical feature!" (Tweet). Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023– via Twitter.
  16. ↑ Duthie, Alex (July 12, 2023). "Markiplier Teases His Horror Movie 'Iron Lung' Is Set To Break Records". CoveredGeekly. Archived from the original on October 24, 2023. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  17. ↑ Rawles, Timothy (August 29, 2024). "Move Over 'Evil Dead' Reboot, The Bloodiest Movie Ever Arrives in 2025". iHorror. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  18. ↑ Arias, Jackie (July 2, 2023). "Markiplier Explains Why He Was in the Hospital on His Birthday". Game Rant. Archived from the original on November 27, 2023. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  19. ↑ Fischbach, Mark (December 8, 2025). "Talking Iron Lung" (video). youtube.com.
  20. ↑ Dick, Jeremy (April 29, 2023). "Markiplier Wraps Filming on Directorial Debut Film Iron Lung". MovieWeb. Archived from the original on May 7, 2023. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  21. ↑ Dodgson, Lindsay (July 19, 2023). "YouTube superstar Markiplier said he supports striking actors, but joked that he doesn't know how it works being 'on strike' against himself". Business Insider . Archived from the original on July 12, 2024. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  22. ↑ Banerjee, Upasana (July 17, 2023). "'I'm on Strike Everybody!' - Markiplier Drops the Revelation of Participating in the Screen Actors Guild Strike". EssentiallySports. Archived from the original on November 29, 2023. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  23. ↑ Onder, Cade (October 14, 2023). "Iron Lung Movie Gets First Teaser From Markiplier". ComicBook.com . Archived from the original on November 26, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  24. ↑ Yin-Poole, Wesley (October 18, 2023). "YouTube Star Markiplier Reveals Blood-Drenched Teaser for His Upcoming Film, Iron Lung". IGN. Archived from the original on October 28, 2023. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  25. ↑ Yin-Poole, Wesley (October 17, 2023). "Markiplier Reveals Why He Had to Turn Down Role in Five Nights at Freddy's Movie". IGN. Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  26. ↑ Glaze, Virginia (June 20, 2024). "Markiplier says Iron Lung movie is 'officially done' in massive progress update". Dexerto . Archived from the original on August 1, 2024. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  27. ↑ Spangler, Todd (December 5, 2025). "YouTube Star Markiplier's Self-Financed Horror Movie 'Iron Lung' to Hit Theaters in January". Variety . Archived from the original on December 5, 2025. Retrieved December 5, 2025.
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