EXCLUSIVE: A new version of the iconic horror film The Blair Witch Project is set to be introduced to buyers at the Cannes market by Lionsgate and Blumhouse.
Reports have been confirmed that Dylan Clark, a promising new talent in the horror genre, has been chosen to direct this fresh take on the story.
Lionsgate has been developing this new version for several years, which is now gaining momentum. Production is scheduled to start in the autumn with a budget around $10 million, though specific details about the plot are still being kept secret.
The original script was penned by Chris Thomas Devlin, known for his work on Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022), and has since been revised by Clark himself. Producers include James Wan of Atomic Monster and Jason Blum of Blumhouse, alongside Roy Lee. Adam Hendricks and Greg Gilreath will also produce under their Divide/Conquer banner. The current distribution plan includes Lionsgate holding the rights for domestic and UK markets.
THR has just announced that Joshua Leonard and Michael C. Williams, who starred in the original 1999 film, along with the original creators—Eduardo Sánchez, Daniel Myrick, and Gregg Hale—are joining as executive producers. This involvement marks a notable shift from the franchise’s last two sequels, which featured little participation from the initial creators.
Additional executive producers include Steven Schneider, Michael Clear, and Judson Scott of Atomic Monster, with Alayna Glasthal managing the project for the company. Oversight for Lionsgate is provided by Scott O’Brien and Pavan Kalidindi, and Phil Strina facilitated the deal for the studio.
Clark, who has built a substantial following with his horror work on YouTube, recently partnered with Universal to develop his horror short Portrait of God, with production backing from Sam Raimi and Jordan Peele. He is also set to write and direct an adaptation of his short film Story Time, produced by Zak Olkewicz and LD Entertainment.
The original The Blair Witch Project, released in 1999, was a groundbreaking low-budget horror film that chronicles the disappearance of three film students in a forest while they were making a documentary about a local witch legend. Their footage was found and formed the basis of the movie. It grossed $248 million worldwide and is considered one of the most influential horror films of all time. Its two sequels, including the most recent in 2016, were moderately successful, each earning close to $50 million at the box office.
Apart from the Blair Witch reboot, Lionsgate’s highlights at Cannes also include a sequel to the successful film The Housemaid, featuring Sydney Sweeney and Kirsten Dunst, with Paul Feig returning as director and Todd Lieberman as producer.
In The Housemaid’s Secret, the protagonist Millie, played by Sweeney, takes on a mysterious housekeeping job, only to uncover spine-chilling secrets beyond a locked door, based on McFadden’s sequel novel released in 2023.
Dylan Clark is represented by 3 Arts, UTA, and Ginsburg Daniels Kallis.
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