Blair Witch is getting the reboot treatment courtesy Jason Blum and his Blumhouse production company which was announced by Lionsgate recently at CinemaCon, with a star of the original 1999 found footage horror movie, Joshua Leonard, none too happy.
Leonard took to Instagram to blast Lionsgate for screwing them over, as the flick is reported to only have a budget of $35,000 but brought in a whopping $250 million.
“My frustration is compounded b/c I’ve been trying to get @lionsgate to engage for over a month about a BWP charity screening I’m putting together for @opositivefest to raise money for artists without healthcare, and NO ONE will get back to me,” posted Leonard.
He goes on to offer details about the original The Blair Witch Project and what happened at Lionsgate including they were told the movie could lose money and they would actually owe the studio money; that they had to go to court to get the rights to their real names used in the movie back, and they only made $300k.
“There were many factors that made BWP a success: timing, marketing, etc. But there was also the FACT that us weirdos got together, with virtually no resources, AND MADE A FILM THAT WORKED! Can we just go on record and say that the film itself is a huge part of why we’re still talking about it 25 years later?” said Leonard.
Leonard added, “I’m so proud of our little punk-rock movie, and I LOVE the fans who keep the flames burning. But at this point, it’s 25 years of disrespect from the folks who’ve pocketed the lion’s share (pun intended) of the profits from OUR work, and that feels both icky and classless.”
Production designer responds
The production designer on the original, Ben Rock, also filled in THR, that, so far, none of the original creators have been contacted for the reboot and says none of them were involved with the 2000 sequel or the 2016 follow-up. The article does say Rock is hopeful they will be contacted this time around.
Ben Rock also tweeted the following:
Nobody asked but here’s my opinion:
— Ben Rock (@Neptunesalad) April 10, 2024
I love the world of Blair Witch. I’m lucky I got to do what I did for it back in the day, literally half my life ago. It broke me into the industry, got me my first pro writing and directing work. It made my career (whatever it is) happen.
1/6 https://t.co/Rdfrv63ogU
It’s totally exciting with me that amazing artists like Joe Berlinger and Adam Wingard have come in and made what they hoped would resonate with fans of the original. That neither did what their distributors (Artisan and then LGF) wanted makes me sad. I want this to succeed.
— Ben Rock (@Neptunesalad) April 10, 2024
3/6
And truly anyone who doesn’t understand what @mikemonello accomplished and still offers this franchise is losing out on massive potential, as he was a crucial player in the OG movie’s success. As for me, I’d like to think my work added value and it still could.
— Ben Rock (@Neptunesalad) April 10, 2024
5/6
EPILOGUE: While we're on the subject of #BlairWitch, here's my favorite thing I did in the Blair Witch universe:
— Ben Rock (@Neptunesalad) April 10, 2024
"The Burkittsville 7" – my love letter to Blair Witch, Errol Morris, Frederick Wiseman, & subjectivity. W/ a great performance by @dmgrammer https://t.co/FLRQflOJrD
