While everyone is out cashing in on the remake scene, there’s one studio that’s not, and that’s Paramount. While DreamWorks/Paramount acquired Oren Peli’s Paranormal Activity solely with the intent of remaking the film, the studio realized that the actual film was more terrifying than anything they could do with millions of dollars. In a new article at Variety about Room 101 producer Steve Schneider, it reveals that Paramount has officially nixed the idea of a remake. Read on for the skinny.
From Variety:

The linchpin of all this love is “Paranormal Activity,” a “verite” trip into the unknown and Oren Peli’s independently produced directorial debut. “DreamWorks, under Paramount, bought it with the intention of remaking it with the original director,” Schneider says. “We had test screenings built into the deal, so we could discern what needed to be redone in the remake. But the movie tested so well, they decided that it would be the height of folly to remake a mock-doc-type film with unknown actors.”

In the film playing Fantastic Fest on September 25th (and still awaiting theatrical release plans), a young couple suspects that their house is haunted by a malevolent entity. They set up video surveillance to capture evidence of what happens at night as they sleep. Their surveillance and home videos have been edited into the 99 minute feature film “Paranormal Activity”.

Check out our raving review.

Also, here’s a bit more about Schneider, a big name is horror: “With “Paranormal Activity” readying to open via Paramount and a raft of projects poised at other venues — including “The Colony” at Participant, “Sacred Prey” at Warner Bros. and “13: Game of Death” at Dimension — Steven Schneider may become the dark genre’s warlock of choice.“