The Conjuring is dead(ish), long live Paranormal Activity! With The Conjuring: Last Rites having brought one huge possession-based horror franchise to a close earlier this year (HBO Max series and prequel movie pending), that series' creator James Wan has swiftly set his sights on revivifying another. Per THR's reporting, Wan — whose production company Atomic Monster recently merged with Jason Blum's Blumhouse — has come aboard to produce a new Paranormal Activity movie at Paramount.
Kickstarted by Oren Peli's humbly budgeted $15,000 2009 found footage horror, which chronicled a young couple's increasingly chilling encounters with a demonic spirit, the Paranormal Activity franchise has actually spanned seven movies to date — the most recent being 2021's Paranormal Activity: Next Of Kin. But while several of the supernatural series' sequels have been fairly decent (Paranormal Activity 3 and The Marked Ones are well worth a look), none of them have really recaptured the magic of that first film, making the timing of this new movie's announcement just as The Conjuring takes a step back all the more fascinating.
In a statement accompanying news of the new movie, Wan said, "“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. I’m looking forward to expanding on its legacy and helping shape the next evolution of this scary found-footage franchise.” Added co-producer Blum, who's been with the franchise since day dot: "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. I’ll be actively involved with him to introduce this new chapter. 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 see it alone."
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While we don't know who'll be writing, directing, or indeed starring in the next Paranormal Activity movie just yet, or even when it's likely to hit our screens, the prospect of the franchise — which, lest we forget, gave Jordan Peele his favourite cinema moment — getting a proper revival is a tantalising one. We'll bring you more news on this one just as soon as we, er, possess it.