Movies
Sony Puts Down Stakes On New ‘Dracula’ Franchise!
Sheesh. There are so many Dracula projects in development, I don’t even know what to call this project. Sony hasn’t given a title yet, so right now I’ll call it Dracula or Untitled Dracula Origin Story. This is not to be confused with Universal’s Dracula Year Zero or Dario Argento’s Dracula 3D. It’s also completely different from the Guillermo Del Toro/Chuck Hogan contemporary telling of the story
The Sony version is based off a sought-after pitch by Jason Keller and is intended to be a period-piece franchise starter produced by Joe Roth and Palak Patel.
Per Deadline, “Sony Pictures has acquired a pitch from scribe Jason Keller for a period origin story on the Dracula mythology that will be produced by Joe Roth and Palak Patel. I’m hearing the deal was high six figures against seven-figures. It becomes the latest in a growing list of films about the iconic vampire borne out of the legend of Vlad the Impaler. Insiders at Sony would only say the intention is to launch a period franchise… Keller most recently scripted Relativity Media’s ‘Mirror Mirror’”
Let’s hope this project is nothing like Mirror, Mirror.
“Tell Me Lies” actor Sonia Mena is joining the recently announced Chase Yi on Paramount and Blumhouse’s new Paranormal Activity movie, Deadline reports this afternoon.
Ian Tuason (Undertone) will direct the eighth installment in the Paranormal Activity film franchise, set to release in theaters May 21, 2027.
Plot and character details remain tightly guarded at this stage, but the original Paranormal Activity, created by Oren Peli, first hit theaters in 2007. Its groundbreaking minimalist approach to found-footage ghost stories has spawned a seven-film franchise that’s grossed nearly $900 million worldwide.
It followed a couple terrorized by a strange presence shortly after moving into their suburban home.
While we wait for further news on plot or whether the demonic Toby will reappear, Tuason previously revealed to Bloody Disgusting that technology will play a huge role in his vision: “Technology — camera technology — has advanced to a point where it’s become a big part of the film and what I want to do there.”
That brings this project full circle for Tuason, as it was the original Paranormal Activity that inspired the filmmaker’s haunting debut, undertone.
Franchise originator Oren Peli will produce for Solana Films, with James Wan and Jason Blum producing for Blumhouse Atomic Monster. Michael Clear and Judson Scott will exec produce for Blumhouse Atomic, with Alayna Glasthal overseeing the project for the company. Other exec producers include Steven Schneider for Room 101, Inc., Dan Slater and Cody Calahan.
While we wait to learn more, a Paranormal Activity stage play arrives this summer.