Movies
[Announcements] “The Returned” For ABC, Trapped Inside ‘Monument 14’
ABC is taking another stab at developing a paranormal drama. Variety reports that “The Returned,” from ABC Studios with Brillstein Entertainment Partners and Plan B, is a serialized drama that “Centers on a Midwestern town where the dead return to change the lives of those they left behind.” Aaron Zelman, whose credits include “The Killing” and “Damages,” will serve as scribe and exec producer on “Returned.” ABC recently tabled plans for a summer series, “Weird Desk,” based on two investigators probing cases with supernatural elements.
In other news, Deadline adds that Reel FX and Andrew Adamson’s Strange Weather have acquired screen rights to Monument 14, the first installment of a young adult novel trilogy by Emmy Laybourne that Brad Peyton will adapt to direct. The first novel is an unlikely jumping off point for a post-apocalyptic young adult trilogy. It’s best described as The Breakfast Club set after the apocalypse. “A group of teens are trapped together in a chain superstore and face the prospect of life, death and love and hate while the world as they know it ends right outside.” That book was published in June, and the followup, “Monument 14: Sky On Fire,” will be published next June by the Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group imprint Feiwell & Friends.
“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.
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