James Wan, a master of the paranormal for years, has long been hailed for his chilling creations in the Conjuring and Insidious franchises. But he is about to embark on a new journey, one that takes him into the 21st century's most significant genre property. That journey will see Wan take the reins of a new Paranormal Activity film, a move that comes after the merging of his company Atomic Monster with Blumhouse, the production house of the franchise's visionary producer Jason Blum.
Paramount Pictures has joined forces as a partner to co-finance, co-produce, and distribute the film. Oren Peli, the filmmaker behind the 2007 found-footage phenomenon that grossed $194.2 million on a shoestring budget, will also produce via Solana Films. Blum is producing as well, with the theatrical feature said to be a priority for both Paramount and Blumhouse-Atomic Monster.
"I've been a huge admirer of Paranormal Activity since the brilliant first movie, with its creeping slow burn and subtle ability to make the unseen terrifying," says Wan. "I'm looking forward to expanding on its legacy and helping shape the next evolution of this scary found-footage franchise."
The original found-footage film was made for just $15,000 and helped launch Blumhouse after Blum discovered the film and then poured additional money into the project for a release that became one of the most profitable movies of all time. "Diving in with James for this exciting rebirth of the franchise that started it all for Blumhouse is exactly what we dreamed of when we merged with Atomic Monster," says Blum. "Thankfully, we're able to spend a little more than the $15,000 we had on the first movie, but one thing will remain the same—do not watch it alone."
The Paranormal Activity movies have spanned seven films so far, including Paranormal Activity 2 (2010), Paranormal Activity 3 (2011), Paranormal Activity 4 (2012), The Marked Ones (2014), The Ghost Dimension (2015), and Next of Kin (2021). "We're thrilled to reignite the iconic Paranormal Activity franchise with two of the horror genre's most visionary talents, James and Jason," say Paramount Pictures co-chairs Josh Greenstein and Dana Goldberg. "Jason's role in shaping this franchise into a global cultural touchstone, together with James' singular taste and track record for innovative storytelling, sets the stage for a thrilling new chapter."
Horror mainstay Steven Schneider will executive produce for Room 101, Inc., with Michael Clear and Judson Scott executive producing for Blumhouse-Atomic Monster. Alayna Glasthal will oversee for the company.
