©Courtesy of Artisan Entertainment
Two years after Lionsgate and Blumhouse announced their collaboration on a new installment in The Blair Witch Project franchise, the long-gestating reboot is finally moving forward. Industry insider Daniel Richtman reports that filmmaker Dylan Clark will direct the project.
The rising talent, who’s known for his short film work and upcoming feature Portrait of God, is set to make his feature directorial debut on the Universal-backed project. The horror movie will e produced by genre veterans Sam Raimi and Jordan Peele. Clark’s involvement signals a fresh creative direction for the iconic horror property.
Jason Blum, head of Blumhouse Productions, will produce the new Blair Witch, and Roy Lee — whose credits include “It”, “The Ring” and “Godzilla” — will join him. The collaboration mirrors Lionsgate and Blumhouse’s broader partnership strategy, which also includes a new entry in the “Saw” franchise.
Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez directed The Blair Witch Project, which became a cultural phenomenon upon its original release in theaters in 1999. Made on a modest budget of approximately $60,000, the drama grossed an astonishing $248.6 million worldwide. Its innovative found-footage style and viral marketing campaign helped redefine horror cinema and sparked a wave of similar movies in the years that followed.
The original story follows three student filmmakers who venture into the woods of Maryland to document a local legend known as the Blair Witch. They disappear without a trace, leaving behind only their recorded footage. The premise blurred the line between fiction and reality for audiences at the time.
Despite its groundbreaking success, subsequent entries in the series struggled to replicate the original’s impact. The 2000 standalone sequel, Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2, and the 2016 direct follow-up, Blair Witch, both underperformed critically and commercially.
The second installment grossed approximately $47 million across the globe. The third entry, which was helmed by Godzilla vs. Kong director Adam Wingard, earned $45 million worldwide.
Some industry observers view Clark as a promising choice to reinvigorate the Blair Witch franchise. He has built his reputation through a series of well-received short films. His upcoming horror film Portrait of God, backed by Ghost House Pictures and Monkeypaw Productions, has already generated industry buzz.
Some fans and critics remain skeptical about revisiting a story many consider a lightning-in-a-bottle achievement. But others are cautiously optimistic that new creative leadership could breathe life into the series. Reports suggest the film could begin production as early as this fall.
Whether Dylan Clark can overcome the franchise’s uneven track record remains to be seen. But for now, Lionsgate is once again heading back to the woods of Burkittsville. The studio is hoping to recapture the fear that once captivated audiences worldwide.
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