Are you ready to return to Burkittsville?
In a new merger announced between Lionsgate and Blumhouse, a new film in the Blair Witch mythos will apparently be their first project together.
Although both studios have worked together in the past, this new deal will see them collaborating to inject “new life” into Lionsgate’s horror properties.
Described as a “reimagining,” the announcement of a fourth Blair Witch chapter comes 8 years after Adam Wingard’s Blair Witch disappointed both critically and commercially.
Speaking of the new merger, Lionsgate CEO Adam Fogelson had the following to say regarding Jason Blum and the prospect of new Blair Witch film:
“I have been incredibly fortunate to work with Jason many times over the years. We forged a strong relationship on The Purge when I was at Universal, and we launched STX with his film The Gift. There is no one better at this genre than the team at Blumhouse. We are thrilled to kick this partnership off with a new vision for Blair Witch that will reintroduce this horror classic for a new generation.”
Similarly, Blum expressed his excitement, noting how The Blair Witch Project kicked off a found-footage boom. This allowed Blum to produce 2007’s Paranormal Activity, the film that put his company on the map.
“I don’t think there would have been a Paranormal Activity had there not first been a Blair Witch, so this feels like a truly special opportunity and I’m excited to see where it leads.”
A somewhat unexpected announcement, it will be interesting to see how this one turns out. Can Blumhouse craft a successful Blair Witch sequel? Or, after two notable failures, has the well of interest run dry?
