Credits: (l) Zachariah Schmitt, (r) Inanna Ishtar
Survival series “Outlast” competitor Nikki Hru will make her feature film debut with the new movie, Merry F-ing Christmas, joining actress Tiffany Toney on screen following announcements last December. Production is currently underway with director Stefano Milla filming the holiday killer thriller in Los Angeles and in Salt Lake City as further casting details remain pending.
Merry F-ing Christmas is takes place in the mysterious town of Agua City where billionaire heiress Claire Donavan (Toney) returns home one year after her father’s mysterious death to settle his sprawling estate and close a painful chapter of her life. However, with Christmas and the yuletide mood approaching come whispers of a long-forgotten urban legend which begin to spread. Spiraling a holiday reunion into a deadly fight for survival, Claire and a group of friends are thrust into the fight of their lives when they become the targets of a relentless and enigmatic killer.
Hru will play Rosa, described as “a pivotal supporting character whose quiet strength, compassion, and resilience become essential as a Christmas reunion descends into an unforgettable nightmare.”
Milla is directing from a script by Tiffany Toney, best known for her award-winning work on the hit 2023 independent psychological thriller, Bora. Toney is also executive producing alongside Milla, and Mark Sorensen, with Peter Fallon and James M. Black associate producing. Milla is co-producing next to Chyna McCoy with Black serving as director of post-production and visual effects.
“MERRY F-ING CHRISTMAS is ultimately about resilience,” Toney said. “It’s about the choices we make when fear is standing right in front of us. Nikki embodies that spirit in real life, and I couldn’t imagine a better person to bring Rosa to life.”
The announcement marks another milestone for Toney, whose award-winning independent feature BORA established her as an emerging voice in independent genre filmmaking. A former NBC News journalist and professional athlete turned actress, writer, and producer, Toney continues building a body of work centered on emotionally grounded stories led by complex female protagonists while independently developing and producing original feature films.
Additionally, Hru’s latest pairing with Toney further a friendship that began years before Hru became one of Netflix’s breakout personalities. Both first met at a boxing event in 2020 through Toney’s family connection to Hall of Fame boxing champion James “Lights Out” Toney, and have publicly spoken about overcoming abusive relationships, and over the years their friendship has grown through mutual encouragement, resilience, and a shared commitment to empowering other women.
“When Nikki won Outlast, I wasn’t surprised,” said Toney. “I’ve known her long before millions of people did. I’ve watched her choose courage over comfort for years. We’ve both experienced what it means to survive difficult relationships, navigate industries where women are often underestimated, and continue betting on ourselves anyway. Bringing Nikki into MERRY F-ING CHRISTMAS wasn’t simply about casting the right actress—it was about bringing the right person into a story where resilience isn’t just a theme—it’s the emotional heartbeat.”
“Tiffany and I have supported each other since the day we met,” said Hru. “She’s been through incredibly difficult circumstances as a female filmmaker, and I’ve watched her navigate them with grace and resilience. She’s earned my deepest respect as someone who has never allowed those challenges to define her. Rosa is a character with tremendous heart, and I’m honored to bring her to
life in MERRY F-ING CHRISTMAS.”
Check out select few first look images in the slides below:
