Movies
‘Poltergeist’ Remake Writers Conjur The ‘Ouija’
After deciding to make its adaptation of Hasbro board game Ouija a low-budget pic, Universal Pictures has recruited the team of Juliet Snowden and Stiles White (The Knowing, Boogeyman, Poltergeist, The Possession) to rewrite and helm the pic, reports Variety.
Jason Blum will produce through his Blumhouse Prods. shingle, as will Michael Bay through his Platinum Dunes banner along with Platinum partners Andrew Form and Brad Fuller. Hasbro prexy-CEO Brian Goldner and Bennett Schneir will also produce.
Plot details are being kept under wraps, although indications are it will be in keeping with the high-concept, low-budget model Blum has used with success for the Paranormal Activity franchise. Universal plans to release Ouija sometime in 2013.
Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz wrote the original drafts for Ouija when it was envisioned as a big-budget pic. The project began at Universal but then shifted to Paramount with McG on board to direct. But Par could never come to terms on a budget, which spurred McG to exit the project. Universal re-acquired Ouija in March after Par put it in turnaround. Blum was brought on at that time to help Bay, Form and Fuller reimagine the property as a low-budget pic.
Hollywood is serious about landing the next Backrooms. Hot on the heels of a Siren Head feature announcement, Deadline reports that a new movie based on viral YouTube series The Mandela Catalogue is in development.
It also has some Hollywood heavy hitters behind it.
Amblin Entertainment’s Steven Spielberg, United Artists’ Scott Stuber (Frankenstein), and Amazon MGM Studios are set to produce, emerging victorious after a highly competitive 11-studio bidding war.
Launched in 2021, the YouTube series is set in the fictional Mandela County, Wisconsin which is “invaded by shape-shifting, nearly immortal creatures called Alternates. The Alternates are led by a false depiction of the Archangel Gabriel and their aim is to wipe out the human race by psychologically torturing them to the point of suicide. The Alternates are known for manipulating AV media, TVs, computers and GPS systems.”
The movie will be directed by the series’ creator, Alex Kister, based on a screenplay he adapted with Tyler Clifton.
The Mandela Catalogue has racked up an impressive 100 million views across its official episodes alone, solidifying it as one of the largest original analog horror franchises on YouTube.
Spielberg and Holly Bario are producing for Amblin Entertainment alongside Aaron B. Koontz for Paper Street Pictures and Stuber and Nick Nesbitt for United Artists. Kister and Clifton are also producing. Annie McCreery will oversee the project for United Artists. Maria Fortese will oversee for Amblin.
Get acquainted with The Mangela Catalogue below while we wait to learn more.